-
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was sitting just behind the white section of a bus when she was asked to move so a white man could sit down. When she refused to move she was brought into the police station. This caused her to challenge segregation, which encouraged many people to act up for their rights and boycott the buses. Fun fact: more than 75% of the bus riders were African American. -
The Little Rock 9
Nine African American students were allowed to attend Central High, a school with only white students. The governor of Arkansas did not approve of this and sent troops to stop the kids from entering. The students were blocked by these men and an angry white mob. Eisenhower took action by sending the army to stop the violence. This plan was successful, but the army men had to stay at the school for the rest of the year to prevent further violence. Fun Fact:Central High is a racial equality icon. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Pres. Eisenhower wanted to pass this act because he believed everyone should have the right to vote. However, passing it was not easy. Southern senators tried to stop the act, but Lyndon Johnson allowed it to pass. The act created the U.S commission on civil rights and allowed 2 mill African Americans to vote. Fun Fact: Passed as a response to the black codes. -
The Sit in Movement
Four African American students decided they were going to do a sit in at the whites only lunch counter. The friends ordered food at the counter, but recieved no service. They decided they would go to that store everyday until they recieved service. News of this spread and by the end of the week over 300 students were part of the sit in. This movement brought civil rights to a whole new level. Fun Fact: The "sit in" people remained calm even if hurt by the whites in the store. -
The Freedom Riders
Volunteers who were both white and African American traveled down south to bring attention to segregated buses. When these riders arrived to their destinations they were encountered with angry white mobs who slashed the bus tires and threw rocks at windows. Police failed to show up to the violent scene because their commissioner would not let them. Fun Fact:The violent acts made national news. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
African American Air Force veteran James Meredith applied to the University of Mississippi. Governor, Ross Barnett would not let Meredith into the school, even though he had a court order telling him to do so. President Kennedy angrily ordered troops to go to the school to assist Meredith in entering. White mobs acted very violently, causing more troops to be sent and stay there with Meredith throughout the years. Meredith was able to graduate in August. Fun Fact: These riots resulted in 2 dead. -
Protests in Birmingham
Martin Luther King Jr. was tired of waiting around for a new civil rights law to be passed, so he took matters into his own hands. King knew he had to cause violent actions in order for the president to get involved, so he launched demonstrations in Birmingham. King was later arrested for his actions and when he was released the violence continued. Due to this Kennedy finally ordered a new civil rights bill to be made. Fun Fact:The protestors would be hit with violent fire hoses and attack dogs. -
The March on Washington
Dr. King knew that Kennedy would have a hard time getting the new civil rights bill to pass, so he tried to him. King agreed to have a march on Washington to build more public support on the issue. More than 200,000 people gathered peacfully at this event where they sang and listened to speeches. King spoke one of these speeches said. He talked about his dream of freedom and equality for everyone. This March on Washington built the support needed to pass the bill. Fun Fact: Bob Dylan was there. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
When Kennedy was assassinated and Johnson took over people became afraid that he woulod stopn the civil rights movement or not help it at all. Surprisingly, he committed himself to getting this movement and all of Kennedy's programs through congress. The bill was offically passed on July 2, 1964. This bill gave the goverment power to prevent racial discrimination and made segregation illegal in most places. Also, it established the EEOC which monitored the ban of job discrimination. -
The Selma March
The SCLC and Dr. King chose Selma, to campaign their voting rights in. Here the population was made up mostly of African Americans, but only 3% of them registered voters. King demanded the right for every citizen to vote in this town, which caused the arrest of many Africans. To keep pressure on the govt King had a march to Montgomery(50m) As the march reached E.P Bridge they were greated with troopers who beat them in front of t.v cameras. This furiated Johnson, creating a new civil rights law. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This bill suspended discriminatory tests, and allowed the U.S attorney general to send federal examiners to register qualified voters. By the end of 1965 around 250,00 African Americans were registered as new voters. This Act proved as a turning point in the civil rights movement. It outlawed segregation and there were new federal laws to prevent discrimination. However, the movement was not over yet. Their new focus was on taking African Americans out of poverty and ghettos. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
In March 1968 King went to Memphis, Tennessee to support the strike of African American sanitation workers. The purpose of the campaign King would be leading was to get the federal govt to commit billions of dollars to end poverty in the UNited States. People from everywhere and of all races showed up to support this. On April 4, King was assassinated by a sniper. His death was mourned by many and caused riots in many cities. His death caused the congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
