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Trail of Tears
The trail of tears moves the entire Cherokee nation off their homelands. -
Dred Scott vs Sandford
Dred Scott decision rules that slaves were not citizens of the United States and had none of the rights conferred to citizens, including the right to sue. -
American Civil War Begins
The American Civil War beginning is the start to slaves finally being freed. -
The American Civil War Ends
General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. -
The 14th Amendment is Passed
This Amendment granted African Americans US citizenship. This is major because it leads to them being given the right to vote less than a year later. -
The 15th Amendment is Passed
This Amendment gave African American men the right to vote -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The act is signed into law, effectively banning immigration from China for 10 years. -
Chinese Exclusion Act is Extended
The act is extended for another 10 years in the Geary Act tripped legal rights from Chinese-american and Chinese immigrants. -
Geary Act is Deemed Constitutional
Supreme court decides that the Geary Act is constitutional, and sets a legal precedent for stripping legal rights. One dissenting judge rules that deportation without a trial is both insufficient due process and cruel and unusual punishment. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case decides that segregation of schools is constitutional as long as they remain equal in quality. -
Jeannette Rankin becomes the first woman elected to serve in congress
This is important as it means a women's point of view will finally be recognized in the government. -
The 19th Amendment was Ratified
This gave women the right to vote in elections which was another step forward in the fight for women's rights. -
Executive Order 9066 is Issued
Declares that “Military zones” could be created and people relocated.
This leads to thousands of Japanese-americans being forcibly interned when it is declared that all people of japanese ancestry were excluded from the west coast and Hawaii, internment camps. -
Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American in Major League Baseball
Though he was not always treated with respect, this was a huge event. Seeing an African American in such a popular form of entertainment was really important. -
Brown v. Board of Education is Decided
The case decided that separate but equal was not working. It was unfair by design. -
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give up her Bus Seat
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus when the back of the bus was designated for blacks. -
Daniel Inouye is elected as senator of Hawaii
Goes on to become the highest-ranked Asian-american in the US of all time. Also was one of the longest standing US senators, and at the time of his death was the second oldest senator. -
The FDA Approves Birth Control Pills
This gives women more control over their bodies which is a step forward for their civil rights. -
Ruby Bridge
Ruby Bridges is the first black kid to go to an all white school (William Frantz Elementary School). -
James Meredith becomes the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi
Violence and riots came from this incident and President Kennedy had to send 5000 troops down there to help out. -
Equal Pay Act becomes law in the United States
This act becoming law was a major step for women as before then there were no laws regarding paying women the same amount. -
24th Amendment is passed
This Amendment abolished the poll tax which was present in 11 southern states to prevent poor African Americans from voting. -
Civil Rights act of 1964
This law was to keep out discrimination between sexes and races in the workplace. -
The word sexism is coined
According to Fred R. Shapiro, the word sexism was coined during the Student-Faculty Forum at Franklin and Marshall College
This is important because we’ve finally created a word that can be used to recognize inequality when it may surface. -
Barbara Jordan is the first African-American women elected into the Texas Senate
Minorities in women have always had it harder than just women in general so when one of them is elected into a position of power, this is a major step for them. -
The Nation Organization for Women (NOW) is created
Women are finally banding together to lobby for change -
The Black Panthers, a black nationalist organization was founded.
The Black Panthers, a black nationalist organization was founded. -
30 Black Panthers representatives go to the state capitol with guns
30 Black Panthers representatives go to the state capitol with guns -
Executive Order 11375
Expanded the 1965 affirmative action that took measures to make sure women and minorities had equal opportunity in the workplace. -
Women’s Equality Day
The first Women’s Equality Day happens on August 26, 1971. This is important because they’re finally recognizing the problem that exists and trying to bring awareness to it. -
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment protects a woman’s right to an abortion -
First Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights march at Washington
This event draws more than 100,000 people and it is a big event as it’s one of the first times this issue is addressed so bluntly and with such a large group of supporters. -
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg nominated for the Supreme Court
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg nominated for the Supreme Court -
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg sworn into office
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg sworn into office -
Martin Luther King Jr. day is established as a federal holiday
This day was created to remember the strides we have taken and the distance we still need to go when approaching racism. We cannot let MLK’s words die with him, so this holiday was created in order to prevent that. -
Gay Student Services v. Texas A&M University
The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment gave LGBT clubs the right to organize and forced the school to recognize them -
George W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act
Created to protect those with disabilities from discrimination. -
Rodney King is killed
A taxi driver, is brutally beaten by LAPD. The officers are acquitted. -
LA riots begin
Quickly degenerating and dividing along racial lines. Several people are beat up, stores are looted, and 53 people eventually are killed. -
Barack Obama is elected President of the United States
President Barack Obama is elected as the first black President of the United States. Black people are still very much a minority when it comes to government, so having Obama elected as the President is a significant event. -
Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager was shot by a white police officer in Missouri
This event incites protests in Ferguson and all around. The protests focus on how racism is not just a thing of the past and we need to work together to abolish it once and for all. -
Gay marriage is legalized in the US
Though not the first country to do so, America finally legalizing gay marriage means that hopefully the rest of the world will begin to take these steps to equality as well.
