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1865 – 13th Amendment Ends Slavery
Description: Slavery was officially made illegal in the U.S.
Significance: This was a major step in freedom for African Americans.
Key Players: U.S. Congress, Abraham Lincoln
Source: National Archives -
1870 – 15th Amendment Passed
Description: Gave Black men the right to vote.
Significance: Gave political power, but not everyone accepted it.
Key Players: U.S. Congress
Source: National Archives -
1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson
Description: Supreme Court said segregation was legal.
Significance: Allowed “separate but equal” laws like Jim Crow.
Key Players: Homer Plessy, U.S. Supreme Court
Source: National Archives -
1954 – Brown v. Board of Education
Description: Supreme Court said school segregation was illegal.
Significance: Huge win for civil rights and education.
Key Players: Thurgood Marshall, NAACP
Source: National Archives -
1955 – Montgomery Bus Boycott
Description: African Americans refused to ride segregated buses.
Significance: Helped end bus segregation and started big protests.
Key Players: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr.
Source: National Archives -
1964 – Civil Rights Act Passed
Description: Ended legal segregation in public places and jobs.
Significance: Big step toward equality in everyday life.
Key Players: Lyndon B. Johnson, Congress
Source: National Archives -
1965 – Voting Rights Act Passed
Description: Banned racist voting laws like literacy tests.
Significance: Let more African Americans vote freely.
Key Players: Martin Luther King Jr., Congress
Source: National Archives -
2008 – Barack Obama Elected President
Description: First Black president of the United States.
Significance: Symbol of progress and hope.
Key Players: Barack Obama
Source: Library of Congress -
2013 – Black Lives Matter Movement Begins
Description: Movement started after Trayvon Martin's death.
Significance: Fights against racism and police violence.
Key Players: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi
Source: blacklivesmatter.com -
2020 – George Floyd Protests
Description: Worldwide protests after George Floyd’s death.
Significance: Called for justice and police reform.
Key Players: George Floyd, protestors, activists
Source: New York Times