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Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. The ruling provided legal justification for Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation in public facilities and accommodations across the nation. This decision legitimized Jim Crow laws in the South, leading to widespread racial discrimination in various aspects of life, including housing, education, and public accommodations. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. The ruling stated that segregated schools deprived students of equal protection under the law and instilled a sense of inferiority. This decision was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and led to the desegregation of public schools across the United States. -
The Murder of Emmitt Till
14-year-old Emmit Till was an African American boy from Chicago who was visiting his family in Mississippi. While there, he was accused of whistling at a white woman and was later kidnapped, beaten, and murdered. He was later found 2 days later in a river with a cotton gin fan wrapped around his neck with barbed wire. Emmett Till's murder became a huge turning point for the Civil Rights Movement, sparking media attention and activism. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus was a powerful and symbolic act that became a major turning point in the civil rights movement. Rosa Parks was arrested for violating a segregation law that required blacks to give up their seats to white passengers if the bus was full. Her quiet but firm acts challenged the injustice of jim crow laws and sparked a wave of protest. -
Little Rock Nine
A group of nine African American students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, following the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This highlighted the intense resistance to desegregation in the South and the government's role in enforcing civil rights. The Little Rock Nine's bravery became a powerful symbol of he civil rights movement and the fight to end segregation in education. -
Lunch counter sit-ins
Lunch Counter sit-ins were a form of non-violent protest during the Civil Rights Movement, which aimed at ending segregation in public places. On February 1st, four African American college students sat down at a "whites-only" lunch counter and asked to be served. They were denied service but refused to leave. They were then arrested, but the next day they returned with more students. This event marked the rise of youth-led activism and showed the power of Grassroots organizing. -
The Murder of Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was a prominent civil rights activist and the NAACP's field secretary in Mississippi when he was found murdered in front of his home in Jackson. Medgar Evers was targeted because of his civil rights work, especially in his efforts to desegregate the University of Mississippi and investigate racial violence and lynchings. His assassination was a shocking reminder of the deadly risks faced by those fighting for racial Justice in the South. -
Freedom Rides
Freedom rides were a series of nonviolent protests in 1961 where civil rights activists rode buses into the segregated Southern United States to test and challenge new segregation laws. Over 1,000 students began taking rides through the South. Groups of riders were attacked, and white racists bombed buses, and police were not stepping in to stop them. The brutal treatment of the writers was widely covered by the media, exposing the reality of racism in the South to the entire nation -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, activist, and one of the most influential leaders of the American civil rights movement. He believed in peaceful protest and civil disobedience as a way to combat racial injustice. He led countless marches, boycotts, and sit-ins to challenge segregation and discrimination. He helped lead efforts that resulted in key civil rights acts such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
The Children's Crusade
The Children's Crusade was a major civil rights protest where thousands of African-American children marched to demand an end to segregation. It became one of the most emotionally powerful events of the Civil Rights Movement. Over 1,000 students left their schools and marched peacefully through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. This protest showed the moral urgency of the civil rights movement and helped break the back of segregation in one of the South's most resistant cities. -
The March on Washington
The March on Washington was a massive civil rights demonstration in Washington, DC. It was one of the largest political rallies in US history at the time, with over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial. The purpose of the March was to demand civil rights and Racial equality and to put an end to segregation once and for all. During this march, Martin Luther King Jr delivered his iconic I Have a Dream speech, which became one of the most famous and Powerful speeches in American history. -
The Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church
On September 15th, a powerful bomb planted by members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church, which was a key meeting place for civil rights leaders and activists. The explosion killed four African-American girls, and more than 20 others were injured. The deaths of these four young children in such a violent act horrified people across the country. The bombing became a Tipping Point that helped build support for stronger federal civil rights protections. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson, was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that became one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. This new law ended segregation in public places such as restaurants, theaters, hotels, schools, and parks. The new law gave legal backing to the demands of the civil rights movement and pushed the United States closer to the ideals of freedom and equality for everyone. -
The Selma to Montgomery March
The Selma to Montgomery March was a peaceful protest for voting rights that took place in March 1965 in Alabama. It became one of the most important events in the civil rights movement. In this march, civil rights activists planned to protest efforts to block black Americans from voting in the South. The three marches that took place highlighted how black citizens were being denied the right to vote through intimidation, unfair tests, and violence from white racists. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a federal law passed with the aim of ending racial discrimination in voting and is considered one of the most important achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. Planetary practices such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and other tactics the southern states used to keep black Americans from registering to vote. But after the law was signed by President Johnson, black Americans were given the right to vote and the promise of equality with real political power.