Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s

Brown v. Board of Education

1954

This landmark Supreme Court case declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision laid the foundation for later civil rights efforts, but did not lead to immediate desegregation.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

1956

Following the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, civil rights leaders organized a boycott of the city's buses. The boycott lasted over a year, and eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation on public transportation unconstitutional.

Little Rock Nine

1957

Nine African American students were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, but were met with violent opposition from white segregationists. President Eisenhower intervened and sent federal troops to escort the students to school.

Greensboro Sit-ins

1960

Four African American college students in Greensboro, North Carolina staged a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter in a Woolworth's department store. The tactic spread to other cities, leading to a nationwide movement of nonviolent protests.

Freedom Rides

1961

Civil rights activists rode buses through the South to challenge segregation on interstate transportation. The rides were met with violent resistance, but ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on buses and trains was unconstitutional.

March on Washington

1963

The largest civil rights demonstration in history, the March on Washington brought over 200,000 people to the nation's capital to demand equal rights and an end to segregation. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

1964

Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also prohibited segregation in public accommodations, and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to combat workplace discrimination.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965

This legislation eliminated barriers to voting for African Americans, such as poll taxes and literacy tests. It also authorized the federal government to oversee and enforce voting rights in areas with a history of discrimination.

Selma March

1965

Civil rights activists attempted to march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital in Montgomery to demand voting rights, but were met with violent opposition from state and local authorities. The event, known as "Bloody Sunday," galvanized public support for the Voting Rights Act.

Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

1968

Dr. King was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee by James Earl Ray. His death sparked riots and unrest in cities across the country, and was a significant setback for the civil rights movement.

Fair Housing Act of 1968

1968

Signed into law by President Johnson, this legislation prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex. It was passed in the wake of Dr. King's assassination, and was the last major civil rights law of the 1960s.