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The Supreme Court Decision of Plessy v. Ferguson
It established the "separate but equal" doctrine, upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation and legitimizing Jim Crow laws. It was challenging because it legally sanctioned racial segregation, effectively undermining the constitutional rights and equality of African Americans -
The Tuskegee Airmen
Their exceptional service and combat record as the first African American military aviators shattered racist stereotypes and paved the way for desegregation in the military and beyond, inspiring future generations to fight for equality -
The Integration of Major League Baseball
-Jackie Robinson
Symbolizing a broader push for racial equality by showcasing that integration was possible and paving the way for other areas of society to follow suit, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. -
The Integration of the Armed Forces
-President Truman
-Executive Order 9981
-It challenged the deeply ingrained societal norm of segregation and opened doors for people of color in a previously discriminatory institution, setting a precedent for civil rights advancements. -
The Supreme Court Decision of Sweatt v. Painter
challenging the "separate but equal" doctrine and highlighting the inherent inequality of segregated educational facilities. -
The Supreme Court Decision of Brown v. Board of Education
Declaring that racial segregation in public education was unconstitutional, arguing that separate facilities are inherently unequal. -
The Death of Emmitt Till
-Mississippi
Exposing the systemic racism and violence faced by African Americans in the South and galvanizing the movement. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
-Rosa Parks
-Montgomery, Alabama
refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and igniting the modern civil rights movement -
The Integration of The Little Rock High School
-The Little Rock Nine Students
-Little Rock, Arkansas
The Little Rock Nine, nine African American students, faced immense resistance and racial violence as they attempted to integrate Little Rock Central High School. It demonstrating the power of federal authority to enforce desegregated and serving as a national symbol of the struggle for racial equality in education -
The Civil Rights Act of 1957
-President Eisenhower
it was the first federal civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, establishing the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department and empowering federal prosecutors to address voting rights violations, -
The Greensboro Four Lunch Counter Sit-In
-The Greensboro Four
-Greensboro, North Carolina
It sparked a widespread student-led movement that challenged segregation, drawing national attention and inspiring similar protests across the South, ultimately leading to the desegregation of public facilities. -
The Freedom Rides by Freedom Riders of 1961
-From Northern Cities to Southern Cities from May4- Dec, 1961
they challenged segregation in interstate travel, drew national attention to the Civil Rights Movement through violent reactions, and ultimately led to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) banning segregation in interstate transit facilities. -
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment
-President Johnson
it abolished poll taxes as a requirement for voting in federal elections, ensuring that economic status wouldn't be a barrier to exercising the right to vote, particularly impacting marginalized communities in the South -
The Integration of the University of Mississippi
-James Meredith
marking the first integration of a public educational facility in Mississippi and showcasing the power of individual courage against systemic racism -
The Integration of the University of Alabama
-Vivian Malone James A. Hood
marking a significant step towards racial equality by forcing the state to comply with federal law and paving the way for further integration efforts. -
The March on Washington & "I Have a Dream." Speech by MLK
-Martin Luther King Jr. and 250,000 Americans
they galvanized the Civil Rights Movement, brought national attention to racial injustice, and inspired a generation to fight for equality, ultimately leading to landmark civil rights legislation. -
The Assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas Texas
-Lee Harvey Oswald
-Dallas, Texas
it created a sense of urgency and galvanized support for civil rights legislation, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed by President Johnson
-President Johnson
-Selma, Alabama
it outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, ending segregation in public places and employment, and establishing a foundation for equal rights and opportunities for all Americans. -
The Assassination of Malcolm X
-Thomas Hagan
-New York City
the posthumous rise of his ideas and legacy, particularly his emphasis on self-defense and Black pride, which fueled the Black Power movement and inspired generations of activists -
The Selma to Montgomery March: "Bloody Sunday"
-Martin Luther King Jr. and 600 Civil Rights Marches
led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, by exposing the nation to the brutality of voter suppression and galvanizing public opinion. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
-President Johnson
a landmark federal law enacted in 1965 to remove race-based restrictions on voting. It is perhaps the country's most important voting rights law, with a history that dates to the Civil War. -
The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Memphis, Tennessee
-James Earl Ray
-Memphis , Tennessee
had a profound and multifaceted impact, including sparking widespread riots, galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement, and leading to the passage of the Fair Housing Act. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1968
-President Johnson
it prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and later, sex, and expanded the definition of civil rights to include fair housing, addressing a major area of concern that previous acts hadn't fully tackled.