Civil Rights Movement Sammy Sebestyen

Brown v. Board of Education

May 17, 1954

Washington D.C.
1. Plessy v. Ferguson
2. An African American girl named Linda Brown was denied admission to her local school because of her race and was told to attend an all-black school that was across town. Her parents then sued the school board.
3. Segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amendment.
This was the first step for African Americans to begin challenging other forms of segregation. By fighting the racism, they were able to gain more rights.

Rose Parks Arrested

Dec 1, 1955

Montgomery, Alabama
1. Rosa Parks took a seat near the white section, and once the bus was full, she refused to move to allow a white man to sit down.
2. She was arrested, but E.D. Nixon suggested using her to break down bus segregation.
During this event, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Though at the time it seemed daring and dangerous, it allowed to public to launch a modern day civil rights movement. Many African Americans began protesting and used her situation as a symbol for hope.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (Beginning)

Dec 5, 1955

1. Montgomery Bus Boycott
2. Montgomery, Alabama
3. In retaliation to the growing segregation of the buses, African Americans banded together and decided to start a bus boycott. Things such as ministers and newspaper articles got the word out, and did not ride the buses for over a year until their request of desegregating was met. By the time this was met, the African Americans had faithfully gotten equal bus rights, showing that their protests could lead to a large change in public systems.

Civil Rights Acts of 1957

Aug 29, 1957

Washington D.C.
1. Congress
2. It was intended to protect the right of African Americans to vote.
This act was the first civil rights law to be passed since Reconstruction. This tried to preserve the right to vote for African Americans and although Southern Democrats tried to block it, they were able to pass the act and give the Department of Justice the power to enforce this inalienable right. After the passing of the bill, 2 million new African Americans registered to vote under the law.

Events at Little Rock, Arkansas

Sep 24, 1957

Little Rock, Arkansas
1. 9 African Americans were sent to desegregate a white Southern school but the governor sent troops to prevent them from entering the school. Mobs and riots rose up as well.
2. Eisenhower sent his own troops to protect the students and allow them to enter the school.
Throughout this crisis, the young students fought for their right of education and were able to go to school despite the mobs. But, the U.S. troops were forced to protect them for the rest of the school year.

Attack of the Freedom Riders

May 14, 1961

Anniston, Birmingham, and Montgomery, Alabama
1. In an attempt to fight segregation, Freedom Riders rode the buses to the South in various seat positions.
2. CORE
3. Both African Americans and white people were part of this action.
During this time, the Freedom Riders were attacked by angry white mobs who damaged the buses and beat the members. Though they were viciously attacked, the riders continued on in pursuit of their goal, which showed a shred of hope against the KKK and other resistance.

James Meredith Enrolls at Ole Miss

Sep 30, 1962

Oxford, Mississippi
1. The governor of Mississippi was blocking his path and would not let him register.
2. President Kennedy sent federal marshals to escort Meredith onto the campus and had guard him throughout the entire year.
When registering, Meredith faced prejudice and many of his guards were harmed by the angry mobs, but was able to graduate from the college. Since the government got involved, it publicized the event and allowed civil rights leaders to get involved with Meredith's case.

Medgar Evers Assassinated

Jun 12, 1963

Jackson, Mississippi
1. He was a civil rights activist that organized many protests for African American rights.
2. Throughout his time as a public figure, Evers consistently received threats. One morning, he was shot in the back by a white supremacist and passed away shortly afterward.
Throughout his life, Evers was able to leave a positive impact on the civil rights movement. He continued his spirits despite many threats and his death was brought to justice through the court 30 years later

The March on Washington

Aug 28, 1963

Washington D.C.
1. This march was to try to lobby Congress and build more support for the civil rights movement.
2. Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech
After being empowered from Dr. King's speech, more than 200,000 demonstrators of all races gathered and marched in D.C. Some people sang hymns or said prayers, and the dream of freedom and equality was heavily outlined. The empowerment that came from this march gave momentum to the civil rights bill that had slowly made its way into Congress.

Birmingham Church Bombing

Sep 15, 1963

1. Birmingham Church Bombing
2. Birmingham, Alabama
3. Racial relations in the South were recurrent even after several large steps in the civil rights movement. In a Sunday morning before church services, a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing 4 young girls and injuring many more. The clash between the protestors and police afterward helped draw national attention towards the subject matter. The bombing helped to serve as a slight turning point during the movement.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Jul 2, 1964

Washington D.C.
1. President Johnson passed this law.
2. This gave the federal government broad power to prevent racial discrimination in multiple areas.
After the passing of this act, many African Americans were able turn to other desegregation matters. By granting equal facilities and giving the government the power to enforce equality, African Americans began to feel slightly more comfortable. But, they still faced discrimination through voting despite the new public attention and drive.

Jimmie Lee Jackson Murder by State Trooper

Feb 26, 1965

1. Jimmie Lee Jackson Murder
2. Marion, Alabama
3. During a peaceful voting rights march, Jimmie Lee Jackson, an Alabama civil rights activist, died after being violently beaten and shot by a state trooper. His death eventually led to the organization of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Though his death was brutal and graphic, he sparked the ideas that led to a series of marches that eventually allowed African Americans to protest for the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

March to Selma

Mar 7, 1965

Selma, Alabama
1. Dr. King felt that a protest need to be put in place in order for a new law to be introduced.
2. Deputized citizens and state troopers beat and attacked the marchers throughout the march.
3. A new law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, was proposed and passed.
In Selma, led by Dr. King, many gathered to protest their rights to vote. They were able to use their public attention and determination to pass the Voting Rights Act, allowing the preservation and protection of equality.

Vernon Dahmer Attack

Jan 10, 1966

1. Vernon Dahmer Attack/Killing
2. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
3. Vernon Dahmer was a very wealthy and respected African American businessman. Despite his success, he never lost sight of the civil rights that needed to be restored to the A.A. population. As a leader of the NAACP, he soon became a target for the KKK. He and his family were shot at and bombed, where his he was killed due to burns and lung damage. But, this attack actually engaged the community (whites as well) and made them outraged.

Thurgood Marshall: First Black Supreme Court Justice

Oct 2, 1967

Washington D.C.
1. Marshall was an African American attorney in the Brown v. Board of Education case.
2. This was because he was the first black person on the Supreme Court and while there, he remained a voice for civil rights as well as hope for African Americans.
Marshall served as a very important attorney that investigated various cases throughout the movement. Once appointed to the Supreme Court, he was a public figure that spoke out for equality and the expanse of African American rights.

Orangeburg Massacre

Feb 8, 1968

1. Orangeburg Massacre
2. Orangeburg, South Carolina
3. Students had gathered to protest the segregation of a public facility. One patrolman fired his shot in the air to quiet them down, while other officers thought they were being shot at. In return, they began open firing into a crowd of students. 3 students were killed, and over 20 were injured. The violence on the college campus was another event that led towards the publication of the civil rights movement in the South.

Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King

Apr 4, 1968

Memphis, Tennessee
1. Dr. King was assassinated on his hotel balcony by a sniper.
2. Dr. King's assassination started off national mourning and a series of riots. The civil rights movement lacked the unity and purpose that had been bestowed by Dr. King and problems continued to be unresolved in society.
Since he was such a powerful person, King's death marked the end of a civil rights era as well as set off over 100 riots. His leadership role had made him a well-known public figure in society.