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The Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, a lady by the name of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, AL refused to move from her seat for a white man in a time period where blacks were forced to sit in the back of buses. After this, African Americans were boycotting the bus system inciting the first large scale protest for civil rights.
Fact: After a 13 month protest, the Supreme Court ruled the segregation of buses unconstitutional. -
Civil rights act of 1957
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, originally proposed by Attorney General Herbert Brownwell, signed this act marking this as the first legislature since Reconstruction to protect civil rights. As a result, a justice department was made in an effort to prosecute individuals that tried to deny civil rights. In addition, a six member commissision charged with investigating allegations of voter infringement. -
The Lttle Rock Nine
9 brave students from Little Rock, Arkansas decided that the cards dealt to them were ot the ones theyb wanted, and that they wanted to make a change. Orval Fabus, the governor of Arkansas at the time would not let the students enter the racially segregated school. The students then fought and eventually this led to the integration of schools across America. -
The Sit-in movement
4 black students from North Carolina A&T college sat down at a Woolworth lunch counter in Downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. Although no servie was provided to them, they sat patiently despite all of the threats surrounding them. This sparked a huge movement within the black community, which led to the formation of the SNCC and CORE organizations. Their activities included sit-ins, wade-ins at local white pools, and pray-ins at white churches. -
The Freedom Riders
Civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States attempting to integrate many "white-only" places, such as diners and pools. This resulted in many acts of violence. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
In late September 1962, a man by the name of James Meredith decided to try to enroll in the University of Mississippi. After fierce protest and a forced entrance of about 31,000 troops in total, Meridith's enrollment ended in ferocity from whites, and 2 people dead. -
Protests in Birmingham
In the spring of 1963, protests were led by the brother of MLK in Birmingham, Alabama which was widelyknown as a KKK stronghold. In order to break the hostile ties, activists participated in peaceful protest likealways, but time were met with much more severe consequences. All were brutally assaulted, women and children alike with hoses, and attackedby police along with their dogs. JFK eventually addressed this as "a cry that could no longer be prudely ignored". -
The March on Washington
Around this time, civil rights activists knew that it was the beginning of the end of segregation as they knew it. King's "I Have A Dream" speech attracted about 200,000 minds of idealistic activists who just wanted a better life. This speech eventually brought about the Civil rights act of 1964, which completely outlawed segregation. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin ended up proving to be the biggest civil rights legislatures known to man. The creation of this act prompted the creation of the Voting rights act of 1965. -
The Selma March
Initially proposed to bring about voting rights, a march from Selma to Montgomery was planned,and ended almost right when it started. As soon as the march hit the Pettus Bridge, protesters were hit with a barrage of tear gas and police clubs. Called "Bloody Sunday", the news reports brought about many sympathizers which led to the same march being attempted again a few more times. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting rights Act of 91965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson overcame the legal barriers that didn't allow blacks to excercise their 15th amendment right to vote in the constitution. This was a huge goal al throughout the civil rights movement, and its success spoke volumes about the perseverance of the American mindset. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On this fateful day in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the most influential voices in American history was killed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who wanted nothing but peace in America was shot by an assassin on the second floor balcony of the Lorainne motel. News of his death shocked the world,and feuled anger and sadness in the lives of those he affected.
