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White Primary is Abolished in GA
White Primary was the idea that whites were of higher priority than other races. The U.S. Congress declared that the White Primary was unconstitutional and to out the barrier for blacks to vote. -
The Integration of the Armed Forces
Even though many blacks fought during WWII, they were still considered second-class citizens. However in 1948, President Harry Truman gave an official order issuing the desegregation of the Armed Forces. -
Brown V. Board of Education
Brown V. BOE (Board of Education) was a historic event that occurred in 1954 involving a man named Oliver Brown and his case of school segregation. The Supreme Court ruling of this case decided that the Plessy V. Ferguson "separate but equal" and ordered all public schools to integrate. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
In December 1st of 1955, Rosa Parks, a desegregation activist, was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama. This provoked the 15-day boycott known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr. He would later become the symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Change to Georgia's State Flag
In 1955, the GA General assembly voted to change the flag. The state constitution allowed the legislature to change it even without vote from others in the state. This caused a huge controversy amongst people because the flag represented the Confederate Civil War flag. Because of this, the General Assembly sought ways to change the flag and finally in 2001, changed the GA flag, but this also caused problems. It wasn't until 2003, people voted on a new flag design which they all agreed upon. -
Sibley Commission
The Sibley Commission was formed as an answer to the public schools that hadn't yet integrated. It was led by the Atlanta attorney, John Sibley, hence the name. The group held hearings across GA to get a view on how schools felt about integrated. Over 60% would rather shut down, but the Commission still let local school boards decide on whether to integrate or shut down completely. -
Albany Movement
The Albany Movement was a public desegregation union formed to integrate Albany, GA. It was organized by the SNCC and NAACP, which were 2 desegregation groups, and led by Martin Luther King Jr., once again. Over 500 people were arrested, including King, and the movement was considered a failure. -
March on Washington D.C.
This march was one of the greatest achievements in the Civil Rights Movement. It was set to pressure Congress to pass the Civil Rights bill and support the enactment of civil rights such as, fair employment, education, and housing. Over 200,000 participated in this event and Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Civil Rights Act 1964 Passed
This act was promoted by President JFK, but sadly, he was assassinated before it could be signed into law. Eventually, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law in 1964. The law prohibited segregation in all public places and discrimination in hiring, firing, and promotion. It also gave the government the right to keep money from states that withstood the act. -
"Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Alabama
"Bloody Sunday" was the only violent event known during the Civil Rights Movement. It occurred on 1965 when peaceful protesters were marching down the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Over 600 marchers were brutally attacked. The guards were attempting to stop the march for civil rights, but instead their actions led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
