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Brown v. Board of Education
The Plessy v. Ferguson allowed "Separate but equal" facilities. Rural black children were being sent to rundown facilities, they sued the school for segregation. Brown v. Board of education overturned segregation in public schools, making it illegal. -
Rosa Parks Arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested after she refused to give her seat up to a white man. She was arrested for this. Because of her refusal to give up her seat, people rallied behind her and eventually overturned bus segregation. -
Little Rock, Arkansas
In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine African American students tried to go to a public all white school. Governor Orval Faubus sent the Arkansas National Guard to prevent them from entering the school and white riots were ignited. The Federal government sent in 1,000 soldiers to calm riots and protect the Little Rock Nine. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
President Eisenhower passed this legislation. The law protected African Americans right to vote and allowed the government to prosecute anyone that tried to deny someone the right to vote. -
Freedom Riders
The Freedom Riders rode buses through the south to test the bus anti-segregation laws. Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Whites helped the freedom riders. -
James Meredith Enrolls at Ole Miss
The white own exploded into riots. The government sent marshals, guardsmen, and eventually troops to get James to class safely. -
Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who organized voter rights. Medgar helped fight for justice for blacks in the legal system. He was shot in the back outside of his house. -
March on Washington
The march was for equal jobs and freedom for blacks. MLK delivered his "I Have a Dream" Speech. -
Bombing of Birmingham Church
Birmingham, Alabama. A bomb was planted in the 16th Street Baptist church. The resulting explosion killed four girls and injured many. -
Virgil Ware
Birmingham, Alabama. Virgil Ware was shot by two white teenagers the day of the Birmingham Church bombing. -
Poll Tax Outlawed
Washington D.C. Poll taxes were outlawed because they were often used to stop African Americans from voting. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Lyndon Johnson. The law banned discrimination based on gender. race, color, sex, or national origin. -
March on Selma
The march to Selma was organized to shed light on the difficulty of voting in the south. During the march, the protesters were attacked and beaten. The march paved the way for voting acts. -
Watts Riots
Los Angeles, California. A Minor skirmish between police and a drunk driver led to massive riots that required government intervention. -
Detroit Race Riots
Detroit, Michigan. After reports about excessive police violence, protesters rioted and caused 32 Million dollars of damage. -
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was a law school graduate and later worked for the NAACP. Having a black person elected to such an important office showed that segregation was dying. -
Assassination of Martin King
During a protest for sanitation workers, King was shot in the neck while on his hotel balcony. King was such an influential activist and the face of peaceful protest. Many people rioted the day after his assassination and many people joined Malcolm X's less peaceful approach.
