-
William Wilberforce
Wilberforce gave his first big speech in Parliament arguing against the slave trade. In the British Empire, he kept pushing for change, which helped lead to the Slave Trade Act of 1807. His efforts also played a role in passing the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. -
Period: to
Civil Rights Timeline
-
The Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire
When the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 took effect, most enslaved people in British territories were freed. There was still a period of forced apprenticeship, but it was a huge step toward ending slavery worldwide. It even inspired similar movements in the U.S. -
Harriet Tubman
After escaping slavery, Tubman joined the Underground Railroad as a "conductor.” She assisted hundreds of enslaved people in achieving freedom. She became a symbol of abolition and resistance because of her courage and commitment. -
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
Author- Frederick Douglass -
Frederick Douglas
In his passionate address, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Douglass exposing the hypocrisy of a country that celebrates freedom while keeping millions of people in slavery. He advocated for equal rights for Black Americans. He also advocated the elimination of slavery through his persuasive writings and speeches. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that enslaved people in Confederate states were free. While it didn’t free all enslaved people right away, it inspired thousands of Black men to join the Union Army and shifted the war’s focus to ending slavery. -
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Author- Abraham Lincoln -
Excerpt from "Southern Horrors: Lynch Laws in All Its Phases"
Author- Ida B. Wells -
Sweat
Author- Zora Neale Hurston -
Why Sit Here and Die?
Author- Maria W. Stewart -
Rosa Parks
The Montgomery Bus Boycott started when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery. Her quiet act of resistance became a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, representing the fight against segregation and injustice. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger served as the inspiration for this boycott. It was a powerful demonstration against racial segregation in public transit. The Supreme Court's decision that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional effectively put an end to the boycott. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington inspired millions. He called for an end to racism and equal rights for all. His leadership and peaceful protests helped lead to important civil rights laws. -
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to support civil rights for African Americans. During this huge event, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous I Have a Dream speech. -
A Letter to my Nephew
Author- James Baldwin -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
This historic law made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a huge victory for the Civil Rights Movement because it banned segregation in public places and job discrimination. -
Between the World and Me
Author- Te-Nehisi Paul Coates