Civil Rights Timeline

13th Amendment (African Americans)

1865

This amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment (AA, NA,Chicanos, & Women)

1868

Right of citizenship, due process of law, and equal protection of the law. The 14th amendment has become one of the most used amendments in court to date regarding the equal protection clause.

15th Amendment (African Americans)

1870

This amendment granted African American men the right to vote.

Plessy v. Ferguson (African Americans)

1896

"separate but equal". Even though blacks still could not share the same facilities with the whites, a law was put in place that states that facilities had to be equal in quality.

NAACP Created (African Americans)

1909

Secured the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights.

19th Amendment (Women)

1920

Granted women the right to vote in elections.

Executive Order 9981 (African & Native Americans)

1948

Abolished discrimination on the terms of race, color, religion, or national origin.

Brown v. Board of Education (African Americans)

1954

Blacks were allowed to attend the same schools as whites.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (African Americans)

1955

The majority of blacks stopped taking the bus, which greatly affected the economy, leading to a change in laws.

Little Rock 9 (African Americans)

Sep 4, 1957

Nine black children were integrated into an originally all white school.

Civil Rights Act of 1957 (African Americans)

Sep 9, 1957

Began a new era in civil rights legislation and enforcement. This act outlawed segregation in public places.

Chicano Movement (Mural Movement) (Chicanos)

1960

Part of the effort of hispanics to reinvigorate their cultural heritage. Hispanics painted murals with empowering messages.

Freedom Riders (African Americans)

1961

Their goal was to desegregate public transportation by riding buses into segregated southern United States.

24th Amendment (NA, Chicanos, & Women)

Jan 23, 1964

The United States constitution abolished the poll takes for all federal elections.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (African Americans)

Jul 2, 1964

Ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. This gave the minority an equal opportunity at jobs and made them feel more included in the society.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (African Americans)

Aug 6, 1965

Allowed African Americans to vote. Overcoming of legal barriers

Cesar Chavez (Chicanos)

Sep 8, 1965

Chavez began a 24-day hunger strike to argue his view. In addition, he also battles the Grape growers for better pay and working conditions.

Black Panthers (African Americans)

1966

Organization with the idea of black nationalism, socialism, and armed self-defense.

MLK Assassinated (African Americans)

Apr 4, 1968

MLK's assassination led to frustration and anger among black Americans and the passing of an equal housing bill.

American Indian Movement (AIM) (Native Americans)

Jul 1, 1968

Group organized to address issues related to sovereignty, leadership, and treaties. In addition, it protested racism and civil rights violations against native americans.