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MIlitary Desegregated
Social Event
In 1948, President Harry Truman ordered the desegregation of the United States Military. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Political Event
The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was a class action suit filed against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. It started when an African American student, Linda Brown was not alllowed to attend an all-white school in Topeka. After the case went to the supreme court, it was ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Social Event
Emmett Till was a 14- yr-old boy who was brutally murdered after apparently whistling at a white woman. Family of the woman beat him and through him in the river. Even though the men admitted the murder, they were still acquitted by an all white jury. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Economic Event
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Soon, African Americans in Montgomery boycotted the bus systems. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was also a leader in this movement. The boycott eventually led to the integration of the Montgomery buses. -
Little Rock Nine
Social Event
The Little Rock Nine incident occured when 9 African American students were prevented from attending school in Little Rock, Arkansas. The principal of the school ordered the National Guard to keep the students from entering. However, President Eisenhower ordered federal troops to protect the students on the way to school. -
Greensboro Coffee Party
Social Event
The Greensboros Coffee Party started when 4 college students sat at a counted at Woolworth's and refused to leave until closing, even though they were not given service. Others joined the peaceful protest the next day. -
University of Mississippi Riots
Social Event
The Ole Miss riots started when an African American student, James Merideth, tried to attend school there. Riots broke out which killed two people and wounded many others. -
March on Washington
Political Event
The March on Washington was a march on the capital, where over 250,000 people gathered to support civil rights. On that day, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Economic Event
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was proposed after JFK was assasinated and Lyndon B. Johnson took office. The act banned segregation in public places such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters. -
The Pearsall Plan
Economic Event
The Pearsall Plan was a proposed amendment to the North Carolina constitution, made by Thomas J. Pearsall. The plan allowed schools to close rather than integrate. Because of this, African American children were reassigned to 3 different school systems. -
Bloody Sunday
Political Event
Bloody Sunday began when over 600 protestors gathered together to start a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alambama. The demonstrators were beaten by Alabama state troopers. This was one of the most violent incidents in the Civil Rights Movement. This event led to President Lyndon B. Johnson sending in the voting rights bill. -
Voting Rights Act
Political Event
After violence much violence in Birmingham,Alambama, Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for action on voting rights for African Americans. The act was passed and banned literacy tests and other ridiculous laws that kept African Americans from registering to vote. -
Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections
Economic Event
The Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections was a case taken to the supreme court. It ruled that the Virginia poll tax was unconstitutional. It was eventually upheld in 1966. -
Swann v. Mecklenburg
Economic Event
Swann v. the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education was a case in which James McMillan ordered the Charlotte school system to become integrated. The proposal was taken to the Supreme Court and eventually upheld in 1971. -
Equal Rights Amendment
Political Event
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the Constitution to grant equal rights for women. It was originally written in 1923, but passed by Congress in 1972. It did not end up being ratified, though. However, Congress did eventually pass other laws that guaranteed equal job opportunities for women.
