-
Slaves
In 1619, slaves come to North America for the first time. Slaves were people who were African American and could be females, males, kids, and the elderly. These people were sold at auctions to the highest bidder and were forced to do physical labor for their "master." They were seen as property and denied the rights of humans. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act came after the rise of the cotton industry. This rise led to a higher demand for slaves and slaves trying to evade their life and run. The Fugitive Slave Act made it a federal crime to help a slave trying to escape. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secretive network of houses and hiding places for slaves trying to escape their life. It was used to help slaves escape to free states, such as Canada. -
The Civil War
The Civil War led to the emancipation of slaves in the United States. -
More Rights
African American people were finally given equal rights, abolishing segregation with the 14th and 15th amendment. These amendments gave people of color the right to vote and the right to an equal education. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was known as the "New Negro Movement" and was located in Harlem, New York. It was a time in the African American culture that music, social events, and intellection exploded. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Supreme Court ruled that the school district in Topeka, Kansas can no longer have their schools follow the "separate but equal" motto. This meant that they were giving students who were African American an education, but they were still separated from the white students, given worse materials, and the education was not as good. With the Supreme Court's ruling, this was abolished and declared unconstitutional. -
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks ended the "separate, but equal" rules that the bus systems were following when she refused to give up her front seat of the bus to a white person. -
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King was one of the most influential advocates for equality for African American people. He believed in nonviolent rallies, sit ins and other forms of protesting. He is most famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin -
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey becomes one of the first African American women to launch a TV show that is aired. She helped pave the way for many other African American people who didn't believe they could do anything that public. -
Barack Obama
Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States and the first ever President who is African American. A lot of people believed this event to be the one that finally ended the difference between the races.