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1 CE
Timeline Key
BLACK: African American Movement
BROWN- Chicano Movement
RED- American Indian Movement
PINK- Women's Movement -
13th Amendment - BLACK
Slavery is abolished across the United States. This is significant because the African American population which had previously been enslaved for all of American history thus far, was finally given the opportunity for freedom. -
14th Amendment - BLACK
All United States born people were given undeniable civil rights according to the U. S. Constitution. This is significant because, prior to this, African Americans were not considered citizens so they were not offered the civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. -
15th Amendment - BLACK
Black men were given the right to vote. This is significant because prior to this amendment’s ratification, only white men were legally allowed to vote. This opportunity provided newly freed African Americans with the choice to have a say on who was being elected to office. -
Plessy v. Ferguson - BLACK
This was a Supreme Court test case in which Plessy boarded a white only train car to make a case against segregation. The Supreme Court ruled that segregated “equal but separate” facilities was not a violation of the 14th Amendment. This is significant because it showed that segregation, though it was unequal, was considered constitutional. -
NAACP Created - BLACK
NAACP was founded to fight prejudice, Jim Crow segregation, lynching, and to work for the “betterment of ‘people of color’.” The organization was founded by W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, as well as many other northern activists. The significance is that this organization put a group of people working for African American betterment together, and they were able to perform test cases, boycotts, and overall successfully work together for a common goal. -
19th Amendment - PINK
This amendment allowed women to vote, or rather the right to vote not to be denied based on gender. It is significant because, prior to its ratification, only men had the right. When women were extended this liberty they were able to make their voices heard on important issues. -
Brown v. Board of Education - BLACK
This Supreme Court case overturned the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. It ruled that “separate but equal” schools for African Americans were actually not equal and therefore unconstitutional. The significance is that this case desegregated American schools. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott - BLACK
As a result of Rosa Parks being arrested for not giving her seat to a white man, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a boycott of city buses. 11 months after the boycott began, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public transportation was unconstitutional. The significance is that through a bus boycott African American people were able to change the unfair laws and accomplish another step to freedom. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee - BLACK
Students who wanted to fight segregation and racial discrimination through nonviolence came together to form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. This is significant because young people were coming together on their own to fight for their own future through combating prejudice and segregation. -
Chicano Movement (Mural Movement) - BROWN
Artists came together to paint murals on city buildings that depicted Mexican American culture. This is significant because it created a visual symbol of what this group was fighting for. It portrayed the Mexican American culture and promoted pride in their cause. -
Cesar Chavez - BROWN
Cesar Chavez was a farmer and civil rights activist. He founded the National Farmworkers Union alongside Delores Huerta in 1962. He led a grape boycott that caused change in how the farm owners treated their workers. He is significant because he helped to create change in the working conditions of migrant farmers. -
March on Washington: “I have a dream” speech - BLACK
In order to urge the passage of President Kennedy’s civil rights bill over 200,000 people marched to the front of the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream Speech” which detailed his dream for a country where people would not be judged for the color of their skin. This is significant because it caused the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and his speech has inspired people across the nation to fight for equality and peace. -
24th Amendment - BLACK
States were prohibited from requiring a poll tax in order to vote in federal elections. This is significant because it removed a barrier that had been set in place against African American voters and caused voting to not only be offered for those of a higher income. -
March from Selma, Alabama - BLACK
This march was a protest march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, where both the SCLC and SNCC participated. The march turned boulent on the Edmund Pettis Bridge. This is significant because a large group of people came together to protest against unfair voting rights and this led to them ultimately being able to vote. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965 - BLACK
This Act, signed by Lyndon B. Johnson, fought against the state and local legal barriers that prevented African Americans from voting. This is significant because African Americans who were only allowed to vote according to the federal government, received the full ability to exercise their right. -
Thurgood Marshall appointed to the Supreme Court - BLACK
Thurgood Marshall was appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson to the Supreme Court. He was the first African American to be appointed to the Supreme Court. This is significant because it solidifies that the opportunities that were previously only allowed to white men are available to other races as well. -
American Indian Movement (AIM) - RED
This Native American organization was founded in order to fight against the government policies and injustices suffered by the American Indian population. This group organized demonstrations such as the occupation of Wounded Knee and Alcatraz and sued the US government in order to achieve their goals. This is significant because this under-represented part of the American population was fighting for their civil rights as American citizens. -
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed - PINK
The Equal Rights Amendment called for the legal equality of the sexes and would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. This is significant because women’s organizations such as NOW were pushing for full equality the ERA would provide it. -
Sandra Day O’Connor appointed to the Supreme Court - PINK
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. This is significant because an opportunity in high court previously only offered to men was extended to women as well on a national platform. -
Sonia Sotomayor appointed to the Supreme Court - BROWN
Sonia Sotomayor was the first Hispanic-American to be appointed to the Supreme Court. She was appointed by President Barack Obama. This is significant because it is a huge achievement for a Hispanic American to be in a position in high court that had previously been predominantly white.
