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First Africans in America
In late August, 1619, 20-30 enslaved Africans landed at Point Comfort, today's Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va., aboard the English privateer ship White Lion. -
Slave trade illegal
Quakers and Abolitionism (1688-1787): The Quakers in Britain were among the first to speak out against slavery, arguing that it was morally wrong. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the abolition movement. -
Slave trade grows
Economic Motivations: The profitability of cash crops such as sugar and cotton was a significant driver of the transatlantic slave trade. European demand for these commodities surged, which led to the establishment and expansion of plantations in the Americas and the Caribbean. -
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Civil War starts
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a significant executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. It was announced on September 22, 1862, and took effect on January 1, 1863. Its primary purpose was to declare the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. -
Civil War ends
The American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This event marked a significant turning point in U.S. history, leading to the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery. -
Civil Rights Act
Brown v. Board of Education : This 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, providing a legal foundation for challenging segregation more broadly. -
Civil Rights Movement starts
The Civil Rights Movement in the United States is generally considered to have begun in the mid-1950s and continued into the late 1960s. A key moment that is often cited as the catalyst for the movement was the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. -
March on Washington
The March on Washington aimed to advocate for civil and economic rights for African Americans. While it focused on the need for racial equality, it also addressed issues such as economic justice, fair wages, and jobs, claiming "jobs and freedom" as its primary goals. -
MLK assassinated
Background: The march was organized to advocate for civil rights, economic equality, and labor rights for African Americans. It was inspired by the growing demand for racial justice and was intended to bring together a wide coalition of civil rights groups, labor unions, and religious organizations. -
Barack Obama inaugurated as president
Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009. He made history as the first African American to hold the office. The inauguration took place on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and attracted a large audience both in person and via television, drawing millions of viewers worldwide.