US history timeline

  • Missouri Compromise

    Missouri Compromise
    Temporarily settled the issue of slavery’s expansion by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford

    Dred Scott v. Sandford
    Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and had no legal standing, reinforcing slavery.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    Issued by President Lincoln, it declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states.
  • 13th Amendment

    13th Amendment
    Abolished slavery in the United States.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment
    Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and provided equal protection under the law.
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment
    Prohibited the federal and state governments from denying the right to vote based on race.
  • Greater Representation in Government

    Greater Representation in Government
    Increased political participation and representation of Black Americans and other marginalized groups in local, state, and national government.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Plessy v. Ferguson
    Established the “separate but equal” doctrine, legalizing racial segregation.
  • Shifts in Public Perception and Media Representation

    Shifts in Public Perception and Media Representation
    The civil rights movement influenced public opinion, leading to increased media coverage of racial injustice and greater representation of African Americans in popular culture and professional fields.
  • Massive Resistance

    Massive Resistance
    Some Southern states engaged in “Massive Resistance” by shutting down public schools rather than integrating them.
  • Police chief using brutal force

    Police chief using brutal force
    Police Chief Bull Connor used fire hoses, police dogs, and brutal force against peaceful civil rights protesters, including children.
  • Local organizations

    Local organizations
    These were local organizations, primarily in the South, formed by white business leaders and politicians to oppose desegregation.
  • State troopers violent attacks

    State troopers violent attacks
    state troopers violently attacked voting rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education
    Supreme Court decision that ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education
    Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, paving the way for integration.
  • Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Montgomery Bus Boycott
    Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest, this protest against bus segregation led to a Supreme Court ruling banning segregation in public transportation.
  • Little Rock Nine

    Little Rock Nine
    Nine Black students integrated Central High School in Arkansas under federal protection.
  • Expansion of Economic Programs

    Expansion of Economic Programs
    Initiatives like affirmative action and government programs provided better access to education, business opportunities, and homeownership for historically disadvantaged communities.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964
    Banned segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination.
  • Equal Employment Opportunities

    Equal Employment Opportunities
    Laws such as the Civil Rights Act and the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission helped reduce workplace discrimination and opened up job opportunities for minorities and women.
  • Desegregation of Public Facilities

    Desegregation of Public Facilities
    As a result of civil rights activism, public places such as restaurants, buses, schools, and workplaces were legally integrated
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964
    Prohibited segregation in public spaces and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
  • 24th Amendment

    24th Amendment
    Abolished the poll tax, which had been used to suppress Black voters, particularly in the South.
  • Blocking civil rights

    Blocking civil rights
    to block the civil rights act of 1964
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Voting Rights Act of 1965
    Eliminated literacy tests and other barriers that prevented Black Americans from voting.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Voting Rights Act of 1965
    Eliminated literacy tests, poll taxes, and other discriminatory practices that disenfranchised Black voters, leading to a major increase in voter participation.
  • Fair Housing Act

    Fair Housing Act
    Prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
  • Fair Housing Act of 1968

    Fair Housing Act of 1968
    Outlawed housing discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, or sex, addressing redlining and segregation in housing.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Americans with Disabilities Act
    Expanded civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities.
  • Obergefell v. Hodges

    Obergefell v. Hodges
    Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.