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The Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is introduced by the 13 states of America and classifies them as separate to Great Britain in contrast to how they formerly were under British rule. These states then founded a new nation, The United States of America from which new civil rights would be instigated. Not only did such a declaration assist America in a war against Great Britain, however it enabled them to become their own nation with their own policies and influence. -
The Bill Of Rights
The Bill of Rights, composed of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution is established. It was created in order to have set guidelines and prohibitions for society and governmental power. To this day, the Bill of Rights possesses the fundamental ability of symbolising the freedoms and the cultures of a nation. This was the first time civil rights had been brought up as an issue and that attention was placed towards fair treatment of people. -
The Klu Klux Klan
The Klu Klux Klan, or commonly referred to as the KKK is established. This organisation had a major influence on the black community in America. They were responsible for several killings and racism present within society. They were focused much on white supremacy and removing the black culture of their rights. The group and many of their values are still present in society today. -
The 14th Amendment Is Passed
The 14th Amendment is ratified whilst addressing the issues concerning American civil rights. The amendment is associated with ‘equal rights and protection before the law’. The amendment suggests ideal treatment towards people including racial rights issues. The coloured population of America was extremely racially disadvantaged and categorised as inferior. Whilst this amendment was not centered around racial rights, yet civil rights as a whole, it is a key event in the civil rights movement. -
The 15th Amendment Is Passed
The 15th Amendment is passed granting African American men the right to vote alongside white men. Nonetheless, this amendment is quite blithely ignored and several nations deny to abide by such a policy. The amendment referred to the fact that no one shall be denied the right to vote based on factors such as race or skin colour, yet this was the prime reason for refusal in the following years to come. -
Plessy v Ferguson Case
A passenger by the name of Homer Plessy refuses to sit in a Jim Crow car breaking a Louisiana Law. This prompted a court case which implied a law of legal distinction between skin colour. The Supreme Court established a new doctrine of ‘separate but equal’. This was the first broad idea of racial segregation in America. The name Plessy v Ferguson is derived from the judge with the last name of Ferguson who upheld the state law of separate accommodations for the white and colored races. -
The Grandfather Clause
The Grandfather Clause was a statutory device put in motion by several southern states in order to deny suffrage, or the right to vote, to African Americans. Such exclusion of the population enfranchised the impoverished and illiterate white population. This was highly unconstitutional as several excluded people were more knowledgeable than those granted voting rights. Such a discriminatory practise nonetheless was condoned for another fifty years until decided as a violation of voting rights. -
Chicago Race Riots
An African American teenager is drowned and stoned by white males in Lake Michigan after having violated the unofficial segregation policies of public beaches which in response sparked a week of rioting between gangs of white and black Chicagoans. After the riots had finished, there were 15 whites and 23 black people dead, more than 500 injured and approximately 1,000 black families lost their homes after being torched. This was the first ever major riot instigated by the black community. -
Truman Signs The Executive Order 9981
President Harry Truman approves and signs the executive order 9981 which desegregated the armed forces of America and allows African Americans to join the US military and fight in the war. This meant that the army had much greater influence and significance. Furthermore, this was one of the first actions made against the concept of racial segregation and categorisation of superiority. This order established quality and fair treatment within the military and a new face of power and unity. -
Brown v Board of Education
In response to the Plessy v Ferguson doctrine of 'separate but equal', there was an attempt to end such inequality which correspondingly sparked the civil rights movement. This was referred to as the Brown v Board of Education case. The Supreme Court ruled schools in which black and white students are racially segregated as unconstitutional and announced supervised desegregation within schools. State laws regarding such unconstitutional approach to education were established. -
The Murder Of Emmett Till
When 14-year-old African American Emmett Till wolf-whistled at a white woman, it was seen as completely unacceptable by racially motivated society. The boy was brutally murdered by the woman’s wife and brother after having been forced to carry a heavy fan several miles. He was then ordered to take off his clothes, was nearly beaten to death, had his eyes gouged out, shot in the head and thrown into the river wrapped around the fan with barbed wire. The men responsible walked away as innocent. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Racial segregation forced African Americans to sit at the back of public buses whilst the white population thrived. Therefore when Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a bus for a white man in 1955, the white society is outraged. Parks is arrested and sparks the Montgomery bus boycott, or the major civil rights protest of the 20th century against racial segregation. The 13 month long campaign was led by the coloured citizens of Montgomery in which they refused to ride the public buses. -
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference Is Established
Inspired by the Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther King, Charles K. Steele and Fred R. Shuttlesworth establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This civil rights organisation depended on the black churches for support and to bring local groups together. By relating to god, their struggles had an anchor of hope. The SCLC was a non violent group motivated by the chance to fight back. It assisted in several mass protests and enabled black citizens to obtain their rights. -
Little Rock Central High School Integration
9 black students enroll at Little Rock Central High School with all white students due to segregation policy. On the first day of classes, the national guard was called in to bar the students from entering the school. However, several days later, President Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the nine students (referred to as the Little Rock Nine’) into the school to start their first full day of classes.This sparked the Little Rock School integration of white and black students. -
The Greensboro Sit In
Four black men stage a sit-in at a lunch counter in North Carolina, Greensboro in which they are refused service due to their race. They were greatly influenced by the prior racial rights protests and their techniques and the unjust killing of Emmett Till. The 'Greensboro Four' inspired many to join in on their protest against racial segregation which immediately increased the attention towards civil rights. Despite being non-violent, the protest was extremely effective in social integration. -
The 'Freedom Riders' Begin Testing The State Laws
Student volunteers referred to as the ‘Freedom Riders’ initiate in a campaign challenging the state laws which prohibit segregation on bus and railway stations. The participating members tested the Supreme Court’s unconstitutional opinion of segregation with interstate stations. They utilised ‘white only’ restrooms at the stations and travelled to several segregated Southern states questioning the law. They were met with extreme violence and retaliation yet were successful in many protests. -
Letter From Birmingham Jail And The Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor Protest
Martin Luther King, being imprisoned for his mass protests for the equality of African American culture, writes the ‘Letter from Birmingham’. The letter addressed the ongoing issues or racism and segregation and publishes the wrongdoings of the white population. Furthermore, in 1963, police chief Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor led a cruel retaliation against African American protestors by blasting them with fire hoses and using police dogs and nightsticks to break up their demonstrations. -
Lincoln Memorial Speeches - I Have A Dream
A series of speeches are held at the Lincoln Memorial against racism and segregation. Amongst these speeches is Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech. Martin Luther King was an extremely important figure in the civil rights movement as he provided an idea of hope and an alternate reality of safety and acceptance. The speech is commemorated today for its significance in leading African Americans into a direction of demanding equality. There were several influential speeches that day. -
The Mississippi Summer Freedom Project
The Freedom Summer Project begins in which African American citizens attempt to obtain the right to vote. There are more than 1000 Mississippians volunteers participating in the process. 3 black participants are killed in this process by the government, aggressive white citizens or the Klu Klux Klan. Nonetheless, several citizens are helped register for voting. -
The Civil Rights Act Of 1964
The Civil Rights Act is signed in 1964 which outlaws the principles discrimination based on race, sex, colour, religion or national origin. This act accordingly prohibits racial discrimination. Nonetheless, this does not ensure the prejudiced opinions and behaviour of white population will change towards African Americans. -
Selma To Montgomery March
Martin Luther King, an extreme symbol of hope for African Americans, leads thousands of nonviolent demonstrators from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama. This was done as a protest to fight for the right to vote. The participants walked for three days in order to achieve their goal of registering black voters in the South. They were confronted with deadly violence and extreme racism. Their actions raised awareness for voting rights and emphasised the need for a national Voting Rights Act. -
The Voting Rights Act Is Approved
President Lyndon Johnson signs and approves the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which prohibits racial discrimination in voting. This was extremely influenced by the protests prior to such event and gave the African American community a chance to be a rightful citizen. The act was a part of the federal legislation and though disliked by many white supremacists, it provided the coloured a sense of hope and acceptance. It aimed to overcome legal barriers under the 15th Amendment of voting rights. -
Worst Race Riots In American History
More race riots occur in both Detroit and New York equalling the worst riots in American history. 43 deaths and more than 1000 injuries occurred in the Detroit riots alone. The riot was a violent public disorder which turned into a civil disturbance after the Army National Guard was called to intervene. The riot lasted for 5 days in total. -
Assassination Of Martin Luther King
Whilst outside his home, Martin Luther King is fatally shot by James Earl Ray and rushed to hospital dying the same day. This disrupts the hope of the African American race significantly and correspondingly 125 riots break out in retaliation. This sent shock waves across the entire world and destroyed much of the union and improvement in discrimination which had been achieved. King had led much of the civil rights movement therefore his death was an extreme shock and downfall for many citizens. -
Supreme Court rules that fixed racial quotas are illegal.
The Supreme Court rules that fixed racial quotas are illegal in the Bakke v Regents of University of California case. This outlawed the discrimination in such fields towards the coloured race and started improved racism within society. -
Supreme Court Decision Takes Race Into Account For Admissions
The Gutter v Bollinger Case involving the most affirmative action decision in several years referring to the admission into the Michigan Law School. The Supreme court upholds the policy which rules the fact that race can be one of many factors considered by colleges when selecting their students. This because it furthers "a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body." -
Supreme Court strikes down Section 4 of 1965 Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Section 4 is struck down by the Supreme Court. This section of designate which parts of a country must have any potential changes to the voting rights cleared by the federal government or in federal court. This is due to the drastic change of attitude and voting rights in the past half a century and thus requiring new changes in the policy. The Supreme court had no choice other than to declare the fourth section as unconstitutional.
