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Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education
A court case that was decided unanimously that racial segregation of children public schools violated the "Equal Protection" Clause of the 14th amendment. Didn't succeed in full desegregation, but laid foundation that led to Plessy vs. Ferguson -
The Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till, at the age of 14, flirted with a white woman on a dare from his friends. Later 2 white men (the white woman's brother and husband) beat, shot, and threw Emmett in the Tallahatchie river. Body was found unrecognizable. This was a huge event in civil rights Era becuase it showed obvious favoring between races, not "Separate but Equal." -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
4 days before Boycott, Rosa Parks(African American woman) was arrested and fined for not giving her seat up to a white man. Boycott of buses began on Parks' court hearing, led by Martin Luther King jr. This event lasted 381 days, after gave the right for ANYONE to sit ANYWHERE they wanted on the bus, as well as gave MLK a position of Political Influence. -
Greensboro(NC) Sit-in
A series of non-violent protest, sitting at a lunch corner in a "whites area" until arrested and fined, first sit in sparked the series of sit ins, which led to Woolworth Department store chain removing it's policy of racial segregation in the Southern U.S. -
Freedom Riders
Group of African of about 13 men ( African American & white civil rights activist) start what's called "Freedom Rides", which are a series of bus ride through south America that are protesting segregation. Freedom Fighters were eventually recruited by the Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE). Freedom Riders impact helped arise other activist to help in the battle against segregation. -
Letter from Birmingham Jail
While taken into custody, Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) wrote an open letter to all activist, speaking of the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. Justifies that everyone has a moral responsibility to break UNJUST laws, but in a peaceful manner. This letter was incredibly influencing and caused more and more activist to aid in the Civil Rights movement. -
Ratification of the 24th Amendment
Within some states of the U.S. citizens were required to pay a "Poll Tax" in order to vote. Ratification of the 24th amendment prohibited any poll tax in elections for federal officials. This amendment allowed almost ALL African American citizens to be able to vote, cause their voice to be heard, a HUGE step in the Civil Rights era. -
Voting Rights Act
Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, this act Reinforced the right given to the African Americans by the 14/15 Amendments. After this was enacted, MUCH more African Americans began to start voting, this was a large step towards desegregation. -
The Black Panthers
Founded by Bobby Seale, and Huey Percy Newton. The Black Panthers were a violent protesting group who believe that MLK's non violent campaign would take far too long for change. Acts commited by them believed was a "pre acted Revolutionary War. -
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassination
MLK was an American Priest and Civil Rights leader who was shot at the Lorraine motel in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 39. This caused many people who already were activist to take an even greater step for the civil rights movement in MLK's honor, and if nothing were to be done about his murder, there would an obvious violation of the constitution.
