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Overview:
The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine.
Importance:
This case was a legal turning point, providing the foundation for future desegregation and energizing the Civil Rights Movement. -
Overview:
14-year-old Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi after allegedly offending a white woman. His mother’s decision to hold an open-casket funeral drew national attention to racial violence.
Importance:
The outrage over Till’s murder galvanized activists and brought international attention to the brutality of racism in the South. -
Overview:
Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a mass protest against bus segregation led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Importance:
The boycott was a major victory for nonviolent protest and propelled Dr. King into national leadership. -
Overview:
Nine African-American students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, facing violent mobs and requiring federal intervention.
Importance:
This event highlighted resistance to desegregation and the need for federal enforcement of civil rights laws. -
Overview:
Four black college students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their peaceful protest sparked a nationwide sit-in movement.
Importance:
The sit-ins mobilized youth and led to the desegregation of many public facilities. -
Overview:
Integrated groups rode interstate buses into the segregated South to challenge non-enforcement of Supreme Court rulings. Riders faced violence and arrest.
Importance:
Freedom Rides tested federal commitment to civil rights and led to stricter enforcement of desegregation laws. -
Overview:
While jailed for protesting segregation, Dr. King wrote a letter defending civil disobedience and the urgency of fighting injustice.
Importance:
The letter became a key document articulating the moral basis of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Overview:
Over 250,000 people marched in Washington, D.C., demanding jobs and freedom. Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Importance:
The march demonstrated broad support for civil rights and helped spur landmark legislation. -
Overview:
A bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young African-American girls.
Importance:
The attack shocked the nation and increased support for the Civil Rights Movement. -
Overview:
The 24th Amendment abolished the poll tax in federal elections, removing a barrier that prevented many African-Americans from voting.
Importance:
This amendment strengthened voting rights and paved the way for further reforms. -
Overview:
This landmark law banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and ended segregation in public places.
Importance:
The Act was one of the most significant legislative achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. -
Overview:
Peaceful marchers were brutally attacked by police as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, advocating for voting rights.
Importance:
National outrage over the violence led directly to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. -
Overview:
This law banned literacy tests and other discriminatory voting practices, greatly expanding African-American voter registration.
Importance:
It was a major victory for the movement, enforcing constitutional rights for African-Americans. -
Overview:
The Supreme Court struck down laws banning interracial marriage, ruling them unconstitutional.
Importance:
The decision was a milestone for marriage equality and civil rights.