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Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier
Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodger and became the first African American to play in major league baseball. This was huge and Jackie had to be strong and not back down to no one. He was doing something never done before. Jackie breaking the color barrier was very early on in the civil rights movement but a very key part of it. He would be one the great causes that blacks finally started to take a stand and make some noise. Jackie would help out later after his career. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1st, 1955 the arrest of Rosa Parks for protesting the bus rules started the bus boycott. The boycott lasted for 13 months and was headed by Martin Luther King Jr. This was brewing for a long time. Eventually it ended with the supreme court ruling the bus segregation to be unconstitutional. The was important to civil rights because it demonstrated the ability to protest in nonviolence. Also it started to show the issue of civil rights being brought into the light of the people. -
Little Rock High School desegregated
On September 4th of this year, which was the first day of school, the Little Rock nine as they became known tried to integrate into Little Rock Central High school. Governor Faubus and a mob gaurded the entrance and wouldn't let them in. This is significant because by 1959 the schools were forced to start to desegregate and it was due to the president and the nation allowing these students to enter. This showed that the injustice of unequality of civil rights was not going to be tolerated. -
March on Washington
On August 28, 1963 around 250,000 people walked constiution and independence avenues. They walked to the lincoln memorial in a peaceful protest to promote civil rights. At the lincoln memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. gave the "I Have a Dream" speech. This was important to the civil rights movement as it demonstrated the mass appeal to increase civil rights and equality for African Americans. Also it initiated more inspiration for protestors and more protesters started to get involved. -
Civil Rights Act
The civil rights act was passed in July 1964 and was one of the highlights of the civil rights movement. Maybe even the crowning jewel. President Johnson passed it after it was pushed to be passes by President Kennedy. It proclaimed that no longer would there be segregation in public places such as hotels based on your race or anyother factor. This was totally significant because it proved that with nonviolent and motivated protest that you can get your point across and make the world better.
