-
Brown v. Board Of Education.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a 1954 Supreme Court case in which the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. Brown v. Board of Education was one of the cornerstones of the civil rights movement, and helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not, in fact, equal at all. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil-rights protest during which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama, to protest segregated seating. The boycott is regarded as the first large-scale U.S. demonstration against segregation. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957.
President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 into law, the first major civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. It allowed federal prosecution of anyone who tried to prevent someone from voting. It also created a commission to investigate voter fraud. -
Greensboro Sit in Protest.
The Greensboro sit-in was a civil rights protest that started when African-American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro and refused to leave after being denied service. The sit-in movement soon spread. Though many of the protesters were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace, their actions made an immediate and lasting impact, forcing Woolworth’s and other establishments to change their segregationist policies. -
The Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963.
Thousands of young people participated in a series of non-violent demonstrations known as the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, during the first week of May 1963. For many African-American children in Birmingham, the Civil Rights Movement was already part of their lives. -
The March on Washington.
The March on Washington was a massive protest march. 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Also known for Jobs and Freedom, the event aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans a century after emancipation. It was also the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s now-iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. -
President Kennedy's Assassination.
Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, fatally wounding President Kennedy. Kennedy was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital. He was 46. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race is considered one of the legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. Proposed by President John F. Kennedy and signed into law by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. In several years, Congress expanded the act and passed additional civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Selma To Montgomery.
The Selma to Montgomery march was part of a series of civil-rights protests that occurred in Alabama. In March, protesters marched the 54-mile route from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery were confronted with deadly violence from local authorities and white vigilante groups. As the world watched, the protesters had achieved their goal, walking for three days to reach Montgomery. The march raised awareness of the difficulties faced by black voters, and the for a national Voting Rights Act. -
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, an event that sent shock around the world. His assassination led to an outpouring of anger among black Americans, as well as a period of national mourning that helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era.
