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Brown V Board of Education
Oliver Brown filed a case when his daughter was refused admission into a school in Topeka, Kansas because they were African American. The court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional in this and four other similar cases, ending the concept of separate but equal, at least in the school system. -
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What the Civil Rights Movement Acheived
Politically, it provided African Americans with the right to vote and made an impact in public office holding (Jesse Jackson - Democratic Presidential Campaign).
Socially, it led to school desegregation, formed the NAACP, limited African American discrimination, and helped identify personal freedoms, respect for human dignity, and individual responsibility.
Economically, it ended discrimination in housing through the Civil Rights Act of 1968, opened job opportunities, and increased black income. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat to a white man on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This helped initiate the Montgomery Bus Boycott which lasted from 1955-1956 in protest against the segregation of races on public transit. -
Little Rock Nine
Nine African American students integrated into an all white High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were met with vehement resistance so President Eisenhower had to send federal troops to protect and escort the students. They were still harassed. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act was signed by Presdent Eisenhower and guaranteed the right to vote to all people by making it illegal to prevent anyone from voting through literacy tests or any other means. -
Sit Ins
Four black college students in North Carolina refuse to leave a “white only” counter in a restaurant until they are served. This sparks a movement of Sit Ins. African Americans and other protesters would refuse to leave segregated public areas until their demands were met. This included segregated restaurants, pools, churches and more. -
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Also called the Great March on Washington, the purpose was to fight for economic rights of African Americans. This is where MLK delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Voting Rights Act
Passed by new President Lyndon B Johnson, this act allowed African Americans to practice their right to vote. Although it was already declared in the 15th Amendment, this gave African Americans a further push to the polls. -
Civil Rights Movement Splits
Many people wanted more rapid effects and were tired of the long waiting periods that peaceful protests required before anything changed. They turned from MLK’s methods and began to oppose nonviolent protests. These people were the start of the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X, both part of the Black Power Movement. Black Power activists sought to assert black excellence, so they not only fought against discriminations but also started many black-owned stores, shops, and services. -
Martin Luther King Assassinated
MLK was in Memphis, Tennessee to support sanitation workers strike when he was shot in the neck from his hotel balcony.
