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Plessy v. Ferguson
This court ruling kept racial discrimination under the doctrine of "separate but equal." Black people were separated but the treatment and utilities they were given were not often equal. -
Double V Campaign
The Double V Campaign was a movement that sought two victories. They wanted a victory abroad and at home. The racism against Jewish people in Europe made people realize the double standard and want to fight for civil rights in the U.S. -
Executive Order 9981
This executive order was signed by Harry Truman in order to desegregate the U.S. military. This was one step towards equality for black people -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruled that there should no longer be segregation in schools. It was ruled that separating races at school was unconstitutional. This overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson. It was a unanimous 9-0 ruling -
Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till's murder served as a wake up call for the black community that change was needed urgently. He was brutally beaten and murdered. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott started after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and was arrested. This was all part of the plan. Black people boycotted the bus system until the bus system joined their side because they were losing their main customers. -
The Little Rock 9
The Little Rock 9 were the first high school students to integrate into Little Rock's Central High School. They were escorted by the military. They were tormented by their white classmates. -
Greensboro Sit-ins
A group of black students came to Woolsworth's lunch counter and were denied service day after day. They would get arrested multiple times, but that wouldn't stop them. These sit-ins led to the desegregation of Woolsworth's lunch counters. -
Freedom Rides
The Freedom Rides were a series of bus trips to challenge discrimination when traveling. The Freedom Riders intentionally violated Jim Crow laws. Black and white activists rode these buses to fight segregation on the interstate. -
Supreme Court Orders Ole Miss to Integrate
The Supreme Court ordered the admittance of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. Upon his arrival to the school, there was a riot that ended up taking the lives of two people. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington was a demonstration that about 250,000 were in attendance, all in support of civil rights. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his well known "I Have a Dream" speech. The march brought attention and support to the civil rights cause. -
Birmingham Children's Crusade
Over 1,000 children and teens skipped school to participate in this nonviolent protest against segregation in the city of Birmingham. Birmingham was well known for its strong acts of segregation. These children participating in the march were only given a 1 foot threshold to march in. If they went out of bounds they were met with viscous police dogs, high pressure hoses, and other forms of brutality. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This was a huge win for those in support of civil rights. The bill was originally proposed by President Kennedy, but President Johnson ended up signing the legislation. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act extended voting rights to all races and ended discrimination in voting. It enforced the 15th Amendment. It was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. -
The Selma to Montgomery Marches
These marches, lead by civil rights activists, grew popularity through each attempt. The first few times the marchers were stopped violently by local police. The first time this happened would be later known as "Bloody Sunday." The main purpose of these marches were to bring attention to the lack of voting rights that black people held.