Timeline of the Civil Rights Movement

By FloCat

  • Plessy v. Freguson

    This was landmark decision for the U.S. Supreme Court issued in 1896. It Upheld the constitutionally of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long the segregated facilities were equal in quality - a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal".

  • The Integration of Major League Baseball

    This is the debut day of Jackie Robinson into the Major League Baseball in 1947 that integrated baseball, and broke a sixty tear ban against African American baseball players.

  • The Integration of the Armed Forces

    An executive order made by President Truman to desegregate the armed forces.

  • Sweatt v. Painter

    A case involving African American Herman Sweatt and The Law school of University of Texas Austin. Texas created a separate law to keep African-Americans like Herman Sweatt from attaining. The Supreme Court ruled Texas's separate law failed to qualify "Separate but equal".

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Taken place at Topeka, Kansas. A court ruling to the Supreme Court, African-American students like Linda Brown and a few others were denied admission to an all-white school near their homes. NAACP alleged that segregated public schools denied African-Americans children "equal protection" due to under the fourteenth Amendment.

  • The Bus Boycott of Montgomery, Alabama

    December 15, 1955, Rosa Parks a seamstress, and local NAACP member was arrested for denial of surrendering her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama.

  • The Integration of Little Rock High School

    A group of African-American students "The Little Rock Nine", were denied entry from an Arkansas School. Governor Orval Faubus ordered the Arkanasas National Guard to surround the perimeter of the school to prevent the group entry. Little Rock Nine became nationally known.

  • The Civil Rights Act of 1957

    The Administration of Eisenhower passed the Civil Right Acts of 1957 to increase voting rights for Africans-Americans. The Act created the Civil Rights Commission and established a Civil Rights Division in the U.S Justice Department.

  • The Freedom Rides of 1960

    Freedom Riders a inter-racial groups rode buses in Freedom Rides in the south. Sought to overturn racial segregation on public transportation. Created confrontations so the federal government would be forced to intervene. Freedom Riders risk of violence, even death from those who opposed integration.

  • The Greensboro Four

    Lunch Counter Sit-Ins. In 1960 African American students held a sit-in at a "white only" lunch counter. The first ones were known "The Greensboro Four", the tactic was soon copied at other lunch-ins. Downtown stores began in desegregate as a result of these protests.

  • The Twenty-Fourth Amendment

    Eliminated poll taxes in federal elections.

  • The Integration of the University of Mississppi

    James Meredith, prevented entry to University of Mississippi by Governor Ross Barnett, a prominent member of the Southern Democrats, Dixiecrats.

  • The Integration of the University of Alabama

    Governor George Wallace, stood the door to the University of Alabama, to prevent two African Americans entry to the University. George Wallace was forced to step down.

  • The March on Washington

    "I have a dream". August 1963, Dr. King and other Civil Right Leaders Organized a March on Washington, to pressure Congress to pass the new Civil Rights Rights.

  • The Assassination of John F. Kennedy

    President John F. Kennedy was assassinated On November 1963, by Lee Harvey Oswald.

  • The Assassination of Malcolm X

    A leading black Muslim Minister, Malcolm X. Malcolm X questioned Martin Luther King's policy of non-Violent resistance. Malcolm believed black people should meet violence with violence. Malcolm X was assassinated by Rival Blacks Muslims in 1965.

  • The March on Selma, Alabama

    A march organized by Dr. Martin Luther King demanding the right to vote for African-Americans.

  • The Voting Rights Act of 1965

    This ended all poll taxes, suspended literacy tests where African-American were prevented to vote. Increased the number of African-Americans voters.

  • The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

    Memphis, Tennessee at the Lorraine Hotel, the assassination of Martin Luther King took place by a White Supremacist. The assassination of Martin Luther King cause national outrage, as a period of mourning.

  • The Passage of Title IX

    A major landmark in Women's rights in education as Title IX banned sex discrimination in educational institutions. Promoted gender equality by guaranteeing girls in schools the same opportunities as boys, especially in varsity high school and college sports.

  • The Appointment of the First Women Justice of the Supreme Court

    Sandra Day O'Conner

  • The Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama

  • The Elimination of Combat Restriction for Women

  • The Democratic Party Nomination of Hillary Clinton