Civil Rights Timeline

13th amendment (African Americans)

Jan 31, 1865

This was the amendment that when added to the constitution abolished slavery.

14th amendment (African Americans)

1868

This amendment granted the rights of citizenship, due process of law, and equal protection of the law. This amendment has become one of the most used amendments in court to date regarding the equal protection clause.

15th amendment (African American)

Feb 3, 1870

This amendment grants everyone the right to vote no matter their race, color, or previous condition of servitude (slavery). This prohibited the government from denying anyone the right to vote.

Plessy vs. Ferguson (African American)

1896

Homer Plessy refused to sit in a train car meant for blacks because he claimed that his constitutional rights were violated. the Supreme Court overruled this argument and ruled that a law in which implies a legal distinction is not unconstitutional. This led to the formation of laws such as the Jim Crow Laws, furthering the severity of segregation and discrimination.

NAACP created (African American)

1909

This is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This was a civil rights organization formed to ensure the political, educational, social, and economical equality of rights for the betterment of people of color.

19th amendment (Women)

1920

This amendment prohibits the government from denying anyone the right to vote based on their sex/gender. this granted women the right to vote.

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) proposed (Women)

1923

This was a proposed amendment with the intent to grant all citizens legal rights no matter their sex. this amendment seeked to end legal distinction between men and women.

Executive Order 9981 (African American)

1948

This EO abolished discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in the U.S. armed forces.

Brown vs. Board of Education (African American)

1954

This was a court case fought over an African American girls right to go to a “white”: school because the closest colored school was far from her house. This case established that discrimination in public schools was unconstitutional and led to the allowance of African Americans in “white” public schools.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (African American)

1955

This was a political and social protest held on the public transit system in Montgomery against racial segregation where people of color refused to ride the buses and walked instead. This lead to the buses getting no business and they eventually took victory. This was the first large scale demonstration against segregation.

Little Rock Nine (African American)

Jul 4, 1957

A group of nine African Americans who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, a “white” school. Their entrance of the racially segregated school was prevented by Orval Faunus, the governor of AR. Their enrollment in the school was a test of the Brown v. Board case. U.S. military forces were brought in to escort the nine kids to school because of the extensive discrimination. This instance proved the president’s support against the ending of segregation.

Civil Rights Act of 1957 (African American)

Jul 9, 1957

This Act outlawed segregation in public ares, it granted the government with the power to fight disfranchisement, while also creating the EEOC, preventing discrimination in the work place.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (African American)

1961

This group was formed to give young blacks a voice during the civil rights movement.

Freedom Riders (African Americans)

1961

They were civil rights activists who rode buses into segregated southern U.S. to challenge the non-enforcement of previous laws with the goal to desegregate public transit.

Letter From a Birmingham Jail (African Americans)

Apr 16, 1963

The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to discrimination. Dr. King claims that he and his fellow demonstrations have to fight for justice and explains the four steps to civil disobedience. This leads to other protestors practicing civil disobedience.

March on Washington: “I Have a Dream” Speech (African American)

Aug 28, 1963

This is a famous speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. calling for civil and economical rights and an end to discrimination in the U.S. This speech brought about a greater attention to the Civil Rights Movement.

24th amendment (African American)

Jan 23, 1964

This amendment prohibited a poll tax in any election.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (African American)

Jul 2, 1964

This Act prohibits unequal applications of voter registration requirements, and racial segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations. It outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting rights Act of 1965 (African American)

1965

This Acts purpose was to overcome legal barriers at state and local levels that prevented African Americans their rights granted the 15th amendment.

Black Panthers (African American)

1966

This was an organization with the ideology of black nationalism, socialism, and armed self defense.