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13th Amendment
This amendment abolished slavery in the United States, except as punishment for a crime. -
14th Amendment
This amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people. -
15th Amendment
This amendment granted African American men the right to vote. It marked a significant moment in the struggle for political equality, though voter suppression continued in the South. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This landmark Supreme Court decision established the "separate but equal" doctrine, legally permitting segregation in public facilities and reinforcing racial discrimination, especially in the South. It upheld racial segregation until later decisions like Brown v. Board of Education overturned it. -
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Cold War
A conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that divided the world between Communist and Non - Communist countries. -
Cold War & Vietnam Era Timeline
Initiated by President Truman, this policy aimed to prevent the spread of communism worldwide, shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War -
Brown v. Board of Education
A Supreme Court ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson and declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This ruling was a major victory in the fight to desegregate public institutions and a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights movement. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruling that declared the doctrine of "separate but equal" unconstitutional, requiring public schools to desegregate -
Emmett Till
A 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched in Mississippi for allegedly flirting with a white woman. His brutal death and the subsequent trial gained national attention. -
Orval Faubus
The Governor of Arkansas who opposed the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School and used the National Guard to block the entry of nine African American students. -
Sit-ins (1960s)
Nonviolent protests where African Americans sat at segregated lunch counters, demanding service and challenging segregation laws. Sit-ins were a powerful form of protest that drew national attention to the fight for civil rights and led to the desegregation of public places. -
Lester Maddox
segregationist politician who famously closed his restaurant rather than comply with desegregation laws, later serving as the Governor of Georgia. Maddox represents the resistance to Civil Rights laws in the South during the 1960s. -
Hector P. Garcia
A Mexican American physician and civil rights activist who founded the American GI Forum, advocating for the rights of Hispanic veterans. Garcia worked to address the discrimination faced by Mexican Americans, broadening the Civil Rights movement to include Latino issues. -
Civil Disobedience
A nonviolent resistance strategy that included actions such as sit-ins, marches, and other peaceful protests to challenge unjust laws -
Presidential Election
John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. politics and setting the stage for significant Cold War confrontations. -
John F. Kennedy's New Frontier
Kennedy's domestic and foreign policy agenda aimed at addressing social issues and asserting U.S. leadership during the Cold War. -
Peace Corps Established
Founded by Kennedy to promote global peace and friendship, reflecting America's soft power strategy during the Cold War. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A failed U.S.-backed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro led to increased tensions with the Soviet Union. -
Berlin Crisis & Berlin Wall
The Soviet-backed East Germany erects the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the division between communist and capitalist ideologies. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 13-day confrontation bringing the world close to nuclear war; ended with the USSR withdrawing missiles from Cuba. -
March on Washington
massive rally where over 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. for jobs and freedom, during which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. This march helped galvanize public support for the Civil Rights movement and put pressure on Congress to pass legislation. -
Lyndon B. Johnson Becomes President
After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson assumed the presidency, later escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This law prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment practices and public accommodations. This act was one of the most important legislative achievements of the Civil Rights movement, advancing racial equality. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Gave President Johnson authority to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war -
U.S. Escalates Vietnam War
First U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This law aimed to eliminate voting barriers, such as literacy tests, that were used to disenfranchise African Americans, especially in the South. It greatly increased voter participation among African Americans, particularly in the Southern states, and solidified their political power. -
Martin Luther King Jr
Dr. King became the most visible leader of the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for non-violent resistance and delivering powerful speeches, including the famous "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Abbie Hoffman & Anti-War Movement
Hoffman leads the March on the Pentagon, a major anti-war protest symbolizing growing domestic opposition to the Vietnam War -
Tet Offensive
massive surprise attack by North Vietnamese forces; shifted U.S. public opinion against the war. -
Richard Nixon Becomes President
Nixon initiates "Vietnamization," aiming to withdraw U.S. troops and transfer combat roles to South Vietnamese forces -
Vietnamization Policy
Nixon's strategy to gradually withdraw U.S. troops and transfer combat responsibilities to South Vietnamese forces -
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on the Moon, fulfilling Kennedy's goal and showcasing U.S. technological prowess -
26th Amendment Ratified
The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, and this was influenced by arguments that those old enough to be drafted should be able to vote. -
War Powers Act
Legislation aimed at checking the president's power to commit U.S. forces to armed conflict without congressional approval -
Fall of Saigon
Marked the end of the Vietnam War with the capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces; led to the unification of Vietnam under communism. -
Black Panthers
A militant African American organization that aimed to challenge police brutality and provide social services in underserved communities. The Black Panther Party represented a more radical element of the Civil Rights struggle and advocated for self-defense and empowerment. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Parks' act of defiance sparked a nationwide movement for racial justice and helped to launch the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -
9/11
Terrorists hijacked 4 airplanes, flying two into the WTC and collapsing the buildings. 1 hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and 1 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers tried to retake control of the plane.