Civil Rights Timeline - Key: Orange = African American; Blue = American Indians; Purple = Chicano; Pink = Women
By Chum
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13th Amendment (Orange)
Complete abolishment of slavery throughout the United States. Involuntary indentured servitude was also banned due to the amendment. The thirteenth amendment laid the foundation for the KKK (1865-1870s) and Jim Crow Laws. -
15th Amendment (Orange)
No discrimation of voting in terms of race, color, or previous work that has been done by a person (please notice it does not say gender). The 15th amendment allowed more males, who were US citizens, to vote and have a say in the government. Furthermore, the rights of colored people were extended. However, the development of the literacy tests and poll taxes were also developed. -
Plessy v. Ferguson (Orange)
The court case between Plessy and Ferguson found justification of segregation (blacks and whites) legal, under the constitution, for “separate but equal”. It stated that segregation may occur but the quality of the segregated facilities must be equal. The Plessy v. Ferguson case allowed for intensification of segregation as it was considered legal. -
19th Amendment (Pink)
Gender discrimination should not be present in voting (men and women can vote). The 19th amendment allowed US citizens, in the United States, regardless of female or male to have a voice in the government, via voting, for the first time because of the women's movement. Furthermore, the rights of women were extended. -
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed (Pink)
Because women were always looked as inferior to men, the ERA was created to fight for equal rights. The ERA stated that regardless of gender, all people should be subject to the same and equal rights and discrimination should be abolished. The ERA rose controversy of whether women were asking for too much power. Some, like Phyllis Schlafly, rose to counter the ERA. However, it allowed for more protest and encouraged more women to fight for rights. -
Executive Order 9981(Orange)
Order made by Truman which made the armed forces and the federal government desegregated to improve effectivity. The Executive Order 9981led (stepping stone) to the acceptance of complete desegregation. -
Brown v. Board of Education (Orange)
Brown and other men sued the Board of Education because colored children started to feel inferior which broke the "separate but equal" ideal. Therefore, the case prohibited segregation in the United States schools. As a result, schools had to report, to the government, how they would plan on desegregating their schools. This was a major stepping stone in complete desegregation. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott (Orange)
In Montgomery, Afican Amercians refused to ride buses as a form of protest to gain rights. The boycott resulted in an economic decline which urged change to bring the economy back up, thus more rights were given to Colored individuals. -
Little Rock 9 (Orange)
Governor Orval Faubus called in the Arkansas National Guard to block the colored students' entry into the high school. Later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the colored students into the school to enforce the decision made by the Brown vs. Board of Education. This led to the first non-segregated school. -
Chicano Movement (Mural Movement) (Purple)
Minority movement by Hispanic and Latino Americans for equal rights. One of the most popular methods used was graffiti on walls of various buildings representing the Mexican culture to protest fro equal rights. One of the everlasting impact of the Chicano Movement was the gain of rights but also the introduction of mexian cultural art into the United States. -
Greensboro, NC Sit-ins (Orange)
In a large number of restaurants, colored people would not be served if they sat at a counter. Civil Rights protesters would sit in the counter, all day, in order to non-violently protest for rights. The Greensboro, NC, sit-ins eventually led to equal rights were colored and were not told to sit at a specific location. -
Freedom Riders (Orange)
Civil rights activists rode buses to the segregated cities in the south to enforce the rights that were given to African Americans
(the rides were arranged by CORE and SNCC). Freedom rides help enforce the rights given by the 1960 court case which ended segregation on buses. -
Dr. King’s: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (Orange)
In Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. justified using civil disobedience to endeavor civil rights. He claimed that real civil rights would never be achieved without forceful action (civil disobedience). The Letter from Birmingham Jail justified civil disobedience, which resulted in more protests. -
March on Washington: “I have a dream” speech (Orange)
Civil rights protesters marched in Washington to protest for equality. One of the speeches given was the “I have a dream” speech by MLK which stated things that MLK would like to see happen in terms of equality, etc. The speech encouraged many people to push and fight for equal rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were both achieved due to the march on Washington which was impacted by the “I have a dream” speech given by MLK. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Orange)
Act by president Lyndon Johnson which reduced the effects of Jim Crow segregation and combated racial discrimination with the colored and the non-colored. This was one of the many stepping stones to end discrimination. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Orange)
Act by President Lyndon Johnson prohibits racial discrimination in voting, with things like the literacy tests. Many people used to seek voting via this act, if they are prohibited from doing so with things like the tax polls. Especially in the South, more African Americans were able to vote. -
Thurgood Marshall appointed to the Supreme Court (Orange)
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall encouraged many people - specifically colored boys that they could achieve great positions in the government, like supreme court justice. -
American Indian Movement (AIM) (Blue)
Encouraged the "red power" movement that encouraged renewal of traditional cultures, economic independence and improved educational opportunities for American Indians. AIM helped get $510 million for Indian aid programs in 1968. -
Sandra Day O’Connor appointed to the Supreme Court (Pink)
Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman supreme court justice, appointed by Ronald Regan, in the United States. Sandra Day O’Connor appointment was significant because she encouraged many girls to strive for their future and be optimistic. -
Sonia Sotomayor appointed to the Supreme Court (Purple and Pink)
Sonia Sotomayor was the first Hispanic and Latina woman appointed to the Supreme Court, in the United States. Sonia Sotomayor set the foundation for more women and races to join powerful positions.
