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13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States, officially making it illegal except as punishment for a crime. This was a major victory for African Americans, but many former slaves still faced discrimination and systemic oppression. Category: Constitutional Amendment -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves. It also guaranteed equal protection under the law, though Southern states found ways to limit these rights. Category: Constitutional Amendment -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting states from denying voting rights based on race. However, states later imposed barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes to limit Black voting rights. Category: Constitutional Amendment -
Plessy V. Ferguson
This Supreme Court decision upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. It legalized segregation in public facilities, reinforcing racial discrimination for decades. Category: Supreme Court Case -
Wilmington Coup
A violent white supremacist mob overthrew the local government in Wilmington, North Carolina, killing dozens of Black residents and forcing Black leaders to flee. This event marked a major setback for Black political rights in the South. Category: Violent Action -
Formation of the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded to fight racial injustice through legal challenges, protests, and advocacy. It played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement. Category: Formation of an Organization -
Truman desegregated the US Military
President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, officially desegregating the U.S. military. This was a crucial step in ending racial segregation in federal institutions. Category: Executive Order by the President -
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
This Supreme Court case declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. It overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and was a major victory for civil rights activists. Category: Supreme Court Case -
Emmett Till’s Murder
Fourteen-year-old Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His killers were acquitted, sparking nationwide outrage and fueling the Civil Rights Movement. Category: Violent Action -
Rosa Parks is arrested / Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., lasted over a year and led to the desegregation of buses. Category: Protest -
Little Rock Nine
Nine Black students attempted to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, facing violent resistance. President Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation. Category: Protest -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 aimed to increase African American voting rights and created the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. It was the first major civil rights law since Reconstruction. Category: Law -
Greensboro Sit-In
Four Black college students sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, refusing to leave. Their peaceful protest sparked a wave of sit-ins across the country. -
Freedom Rides
Civil rights activists, known as Freedom Riders, rode buses through the South to challenge segregation. They faced violence and arrests but gained national attention. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law banned literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that prevented African Americans from voting. It significantly increased Black voter participation. -
March on Washington for Jobs / MLK’s I Have a Dream Speech
Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand civil rights and economic justice. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, leading to nationwide riots and mourning. His death was a major loss for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law banned segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination based on race, gender, or religion. It was a landmark victory for civil rights. -
March from Selma to Montgomery
Civil rights activists marched 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights. The marchers faced brutal attacks from police on "Bloody Sunday." -
Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
This Supreme Court case upheld busing as a way to desegregate schools. It led to increased integration efforts but also faced backlash. -
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