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Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of EducationThe historic court case of Brown v. Board of Education is often seen as the beginning of the Civil Rights era. The plaintiffs claimed that the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, was acting unconstitutionally by placing white and African American students in different schools, an act referred to as segregation. The court eventually agreed with the plaintiffs and ordered to have segregration in schools phased out as quickly as possible. -
Bus Boycot
Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks was ordered to give up her seat in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and famously refused to do so. Her arrest lead to the organized boycott of the Montgomery city bus system, which lead to an 80% loss of revenue. This boycott was lead by one Martin Luther King, Jr., a future leader of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Little Rock Nine
Little Rock Nine Nine black students are blocked from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Federal troops escort the students inside. -
Woolworth's Sit-In
Greensboro Sit-ins Four black college students stage a sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Six months later, the store agrees to serve blacks. -
Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders Another famous Civil Rights activity were Freedom Rides, the first of which started on May 4, 1961. Civil Rights activists rode together on buses into the deep South, intent on testing out the federal ban on segregation of seating for inter-state travelers. Sadly, this lead to many attacks on Feedom Riders, from assault to the firebombing of one of the buses. -
Children's Crusade
Birmingham CampaignThe Birmingham Campaign became internationally famous when Time published pictures of peaceful activists being sprayed with high-pressure hoses, as well as the news of the arrest of many of the protesters, among which was Martin Luther King, Jr. This protest lasted from May 2nd to the 10th. -
"I Have a Dream"
I Have a DreamThe March on Washington was a planned event where many different organizations marched into Washington with the goals including equal employment opportunities and integrated education. More than 250,000 people participate in the March on Wasington. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his famous speech at the Lincoln Memorial. -
Birmingham Church Bombing
16th Street Baptist Church BombingA bomb explodes at the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four young girls: Denise McNair, 11; Carole Robertson, 14; Addie Mae Collins, 14; and Cynthia Wesley, 14. -
Civil Rights Act Passed
Civil Rights Act of 1964With King looking on, President Lyndon B Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws segregation in education, employment, and public facilities. -
Malcolm X Assassinated
Malcolm XMalcolm X, verbal proponent of African American Civil Rights, was assassinated in Manhattan. While some accused Malcolm X of encouraging racism and violence, he is still considered one of the most significant African Americans of the 1960's. -
Voting Rights Act Passed
Voting Acts Right of 1965President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a major victory for civil rights in America. All additional taxes and tests for voting, most of which were intended to make it hard or impossible for African Americans to cast votes, were banned by this act. -
Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated
Martin Luther King, Jr. The Civil Rights Movement lost another important figure to violence, as Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He was known for his non-violent approaches to solving the race issues of the United States.
