Civil Rights Timeline

Brown v. Board of Education

Dec 9, 1952

Segregated schools between blacks and whites was found unconstitusional. This was a major turning point in american history.

White Citizen Council

Jul 11, 1954

A group of white, far right people who thought whites were superior to other races.

Brown v. Board of Education II

1955

This made schools integrate with all races and made the process speed up. Political ruling made this change swift.

Lynching of Emmet Till

Aug 28, 1955

A fourteen year old boy was beaten to death for talking "fresh" to a white woman. This was a major event that arguably sparked the civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks Arrested

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parks refuses to move to the back of the bus so a white man can have her seat. She was arrested and put in jail.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Dec 5, 1955

Black community boycotted the bus lines after the arrest of Rosa Parks. This lasted for 11 months.

MLK House Bombing

Nov 30, 1956

MLK's house was bombed to fight back against the success of the bus boycotts. MLK was not home at the time but this still represented the hate they recived by being black and leaders.

SCLC Founded

Jan 10, 1957

A foundation fighting for civil rights of blacks. They became a strong force for blacks all over the United States.

Eisenhower Sends in Federal Troops to Little Rock

Nov 25, 1957

President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect the black students who were attending the school in little rock.

SNCC is Formed

1960

SNCC was founded to help orginze non-violent protests for black civil rights. The overall success of this group was high

Greensboro Sit Ins

1960

Non-violent protests to try and make company's allow blacks to sit in there own stores. This made companys repeal their segrigation codes.

Freedom Rides

1961

A groups of blacks and whites who rode a greyhound bus through the south and recived a strong backlash.

Bombing of Reverand Fred Shuttlesworth

Apr 18, 1961

This was yet another violent act against a peaceful man. He survived but his property was destroyed. He was used to bombings and threats and made civil rights what it is today.

Albany Movement

Nov 17, 1961

A movement to desegregate Albany. It was designed to get rid of racism in daily life of Georgia.

Bailey v. Patterson

Feb 26, 1962

This required intersate travel services to become desegregated for travel of all races. Allowed for unsegregated travel.

White Mob Attacks U.S. Marshals

Nov 30, 1962

U.S. Marshals sent in to maintain order during a bus riot were attacked by a mob of white people. The mob over took the U.S. Marshals.

MLK goes to birmingham jail

1963

MLK wrote a famous letter that is considered a top 20 document in U.S. history. While he was in jail the community didnt stop fighting for rights.

Equal Pay Act

May 10, 1963

This act outlawed un-equal pay for people of all gender and race in the work place. Everyone makes the same.

JFK sends in federal troops

Jun 11, 1963

JFK deploys troops into Birmingham to perserve order and keep peace in and around the area of Birmingham.

Lynching of Medgar Evers

Jun 12, 1963

He was an activist who worked for overturning segregation in the southern United States. He was lynched for his beliefs and work.

I have a dream speech

Jul 28, 1963

MLK's famous speech is delivered at the lincoln memorial on this date. It opened many eyes to the civil rights movement.

Birmingham Chuch Bombing

Nov 16, 1963

This bombing of a black church wounded many and killed 4 children causing outrage through the country.

Assassination of JFK

Nov 22, 1963

John F. Kennedy was the president of the United States and he was assassinated during a parade on this date.

Freedom Summer

1964

A push for equal voter rights. Also known as the Mississippi summer project. This was a rough summer politically.

24th Amendment

Jan 23, 1964

Abolished poll tax for voting in all states. This made it simple for everyone to vote in the United States.

Murder of Chaney, Goodman, Schewerner

May 21, 1964

These three men were activists for the civil rights movement in the south. They were kidnapped and executed.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Jul 2, 1964

Outlawed descrimination against people of other genders, race, and ethnicty in the work place.

Assassination of Malcom X

Feb 21, 1965

Malcom X was a highly respected leader for the civil rights movement yet his methods were questioned. He was assassinated.

Selma to Montgomery March

Apr 7, 1965

Protests consisting of 3 marches along the 54 mile highway from selma to montgomerys capital building.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Jul 6, 1965

Made all states get rid of barriers that prevented african americans from voting. This was a large act of the United States.

Black Panthers Formed

Oct 15, 1966

Fought for teaching self-defense to minoritys and socialism. They were powerful and still arround today. In the present day they are a terrorist orginization.

Loving v. Virgina

1967

This changed the ruling on interacial marriage in the United States. A white man and Black woman were married in this controversial case.

Minneapolis Race Riots

Jul 19, 1967

Riots that broke out in Minneapolis. This was not peaceful because many people destroyed everything they could. This was a low point in the civil war.

Detroit Riots

Jul 23, 1967

According to sources this was the bloodiest riot of the civil rights movement. People took to the streets in rage to try and change each others stance on race.

Assassination of MLK

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr. who was the leader of the civil rights movement was killed on this date.

Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy

Jun 5, 1968

Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after winning the California presidential primaries. He was shot in an L.A. hotel.