The Civil Rights Movement of America

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

The Emancipation Proclamation was an order issued by President Lincoln during the Civil War. While it did not completely abolish slavery, it did abolish slavey in certain areas and help set the building blocks for the 13th Amendment.

13th Amendment

Dec 6, 1865

The 13th Amendment was a HUGE step in the Civil Rights movement for slavery. It completely abolished slavery in all the states and gave African-Americans a new beginning.

14th Amendment

Jul 9, 1868

This amendment finally granted all African-Americans their citizenship.

15th Amendment

Feb 3, 1870

This amendment granted every race the right to vote.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

May 18, 1896

It declared that racial segregation was required in public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal."

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

May 17, 1954

This event was a landmark Supreme Court Case in which the laws separating public schools between white and black people was deemed unconstitutional. This was a big step in the civl rights movement.

Rosa Parks is Arrested

Dec 1, 1955

Rosa Parks is arrested for not giving up her seat to a white women on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Montgomery Bus Boycott Ends

Dec 20, 1956

The Supreme Court rules that Alabama and Montgomery's laws of segregated buses is unconstitutional.

Greensboro Sit-Ins

Feb 1, 1960

African-Americans used a form of non-violent protests in order to reverse a store's policy of racial segregation.

Executive Order 10925

Mar 6, 1961

Signed by JFK requiring government contractors to take "affirmative action" when employing people. This policy is still around today and is highly debated.

First Freedom Ride

May 4, 1961

The first Freedom Ride occured where civil rights activist were going into the segregated south to try and challenge non-enforncement of key Supreme Court decisions.

"I Have A Dream" Speech is Delivered

Aug 28, 1963

Martin Luther King delivers one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history in front of over 250,000 people in Washington, where he calls for an end to racism in America.

24th Amendment

Jan 23, 1964

This amendment banned the poll tax for federal elections.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Jul 2, 1964

This outlawed any form of discrimination and segregation on any race in any public facilities.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Aug 6, 1965

This outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been used against African-Americans for a long time.