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Period: to
Civil Rights Era
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Emancipation Proclamation Issued
Description: President Lincoln issued this to free all the black slaves in belligerent nations during the Civil War. It immidiatly freed 50,000 slaves. It was issued during the Civil War. Significance: This did not affect the rebellious state because Union no longer had any control The "border states" were states that were not involved in the rebellion, so they still kept the blacks as slaves. -
13th Amendment Ratified
Description: It abolished slavery in all states in U.S. Significance: It marked the beginning of the civil rights movement. The slaves were freed however, discrimination still ran in south so the freed slaves had another goal to achive which was social freedom and equality -
14th Amendment Ratified
Description: It made all people born or naturalized in U.S., a citizen of America. It also assured all people had equal life, liberty, or property. Equal protection within jurisdiction to all people. Significance: It basically stated that laws applied to all people. This meant no white people can kill blacks and get away with it. It intended to override Dred Scott v. Sanford, which assured that all black people had no civil rights. -
15th amendment Ratified
Description: It declared that no U.S. citizen was to be denied from voting priviledge in U.S. Significance: The slaves were freed and ready to vote, however, the south circumvented the right to vote through methods such as the grandfather clause, poll tax, and poll tests. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Decription: Homer Plessy was arrested and tries for sitting in whites only section in train. He argued that it violated "equal protection under law" but Supreme Court stated it was "seperate but equal". Significance: A major setback to Cvil Rights movement. It introduced the long lasting problem, 'segregation'. Seperate but equal was legal so blacks couldn't do anything until years and years to come. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Description: It was a heated case about segregation of public schools. In the end, "seperate but equal" was found unconstitutional and couldn't be applied to public schools. Significance: It was a major victory for the movement and served as basis for future actions. The decision made many southerners angry and made them go against the law. Even with the law, blacks didn't join white schools until Little Rock in 1957. -
Murder of Emmett Till
Description: Emmet Till, a black 14 year old kid killed for whisteling at a white women in a store. His death was tried and the two white murderes were declared innocent. Significance: The case was completely unfair because the jury was all white. They called killers innocent even when they admitted to taking the boy. This case was seen for its moral issues and showed the true side of America. Image Caption: A horrifying picture of Emmett Till which questioned American morals. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Description: Rosa Parks sat in white seat of the bus and was arrested. The arrest of Rosa Parks led to the boycott of transportation system of Montgomery. Significance: It was a major event because it united 50,000 black boycotters to help eachother through the hard times. People car-pooled and drove eachother. They succedded due to the wide-spread support. Image Caption: Blacks supporting boycott by walking to work insted of using public transportation. -
Greensboro Sit-ins
Description: 4 black students sat at a lunch counter and denied to leave until they recieved service. This led to a huge protest at Greensboro, SC. They won and segregation was outlawed in Greensboro. Significance: It was another victory for black movement. The war was won by kids. They showed just how effective non-violent protests are. Buisness had trouble choosing between serving blacks or losing buisness. Image Caption: The Greensboro Four sitting-in until they recieve proper service. -
Freedom Rides
Description: CORE members boared buses and integrated themselves and drove around south. Some of the buses were met by mobs and recieved damage and riders were beaten. Significance: It wasa non-violent protest that delivered their message but with casualties. White people reacted horrifically and showed their moral values. Protest won and ICC prohibited any segregation on public transportation. Image Caption: Angry mob burned down a Freedom riders' bus. -
March on Washington (1963)
Description: 200,000 people marched to to washington to protest unfair and discriminatory job employment. It was successful in the end. Significance: People of all race united for the civil rights movement. President Kennedy happily welcomed MLK and Randolph with the mob. MLK also delivered one of the most famous addresses to this day. Image Caption: Hundreds and thousands of people supporting the March on Washington. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Description: It banned different voter registration standards for all races. It prohibited discrimination in public accomidations. It allowed withholding funds from probrams practicing discrimination. It also banned discrimination by employers or unions and created EEOC. Significance: It was a major step towards equality. There was immidiate elimination of discrimination. It also marked the unofficial end of the Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Description: Under this act, any citizens including blacks could vote without discrimination. It also got rid of the literacy tests and other barriers. Significance: The Selma March made this Act very possible. Black people could freely and openly vote. Next year, over 400,000 blacks registered to vote in the Deep South.
