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Thirteenth Amendment
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclomation, freeing slaves of the United States. However, Confederate slaves were still enslaved. They would later be freed, but many would still be in slave-like situations with wealthy plantation owners. -
Plessy vs Ferguson
A court case that established that separation of races did not violate the 14th Amendment. Established "separate but equal". It permitted legalized separation for almost 60 years. -
Brown vs Board of Education
A court case that abolished the separation of races in schools. The Supreme Court unanimously declared segregation in schools as a violation of the 14th Amendment. Thurgood Marshall was Brown's lawyer and played a major role in desegregation. -
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat, which caused her to be jailed. This led to the NAACP to begin the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which led to a glorious victory for the NAACP. Martin Luther King led the group and this event served as a famous example of desegragation. -
Crisis at Central High School and the "Little Rock Nine"
Nine African American students were the first to be admitted to state universities in the state of Arkansas without a court order. However, Govenor Orval Faubus got the national guard to refuse their admittance. Eisenhower protected them under protection of the National Guard to assure their safety. -
John F. Kennedy elected as President
Kennedy's take on Civil Rights would give him the edge to being elected President. Kennedy won barely, but his election led to Civil Rights Acts being passed and a new wave of government competance in the United States. -
March on Washington D.C. "I Have a Dream" speech
Martin Luther King marched Washington, D.C. with 250,000 people. They protested peacefully at the Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. This event appeared on TV and inspired people everywhere to take a stance on civil rights. -
John F. Kennedy Assassinated and Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President
Kennedy was shot during a welcoming parade to Dallas, Texas. Lyndon Johnson was sworn into office on the plane leaving Dallas. Johnson swore to continue Kennedy's push for civil rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed
Eight months after Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination because of race, religion, national origin and gender. -
Martin Luther King Assassinated
Martin Luther King foresaw his death was coming and announced it at his speech the day before his death. He was shot and killed by James Earl Ray on the balcony of his hotel. Kennedy pleaed for peace, but many cities experienced brutal violence and unrest. -
Civil Rights Act of 1968 passed
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 ended descrimination in housing. This allowed African-Americans to rise up out of ghettos. This led to more African-Americans attending college, allowing better business opportunities.
