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Montgomery Bus Boycott
This date became, the afternoon of Rosa Parksś court trial. They chose Martin Luther King, Jr. , to lead this movement. Rosa Parks became a huge inspiration to the black community, since she refused to give up her seat to a white man, and inspired many African Americans to join this movement. MLK Jr. told them "We must realize that so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate." African Americans all bravely rode the buses to fight for equality. -
The Little Rock 9
In a school with 2,000 white students, nine black students were admitted to attend this school after a court trial won in Little Rock, Arkansas. The governer of Arkansas, however, was set on enforcing white supremacy. Troops were ordered, by him, to protect this white school and keep these nine black students from entering. They troops and an angry white mob surrounded the school. Eisenhower, however, removed the troops due to thr fact it was unethical. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
This act was passed to ensure the rights of African Americans ability to freely vote. Eisenhower was all for these rights to vote. He hoped for the passing of the bill when it was sent to congress with a Southern Democrat Congress. They would try their best to void this bill. So, Eisenhower convinced more African Americans to vote Republican, hoping to split the Democratuc Party in congress. -
The Sit-In Movement
Four youthful African Americans, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr., David Richmond, and Franklin McCain. had much interest in the Civil Rights Movement. The young man, McNeil, proposed to to sit at an all white lunch countrer in a department store nearby. The first were refused service at the counter, however, they decided to come back the next day with more and more people, until they got their point across. This became a massive movement, ending with 300 students taking part. -
The Freedom Riders
On this day in Anniston, Birmingham, and Montgomery Alabama, African Americans were the brave who traveled on all white bus terminals, in hopes of intergrating the buses. James Farmer, who was a CORE leader, arranged this movement. He asked mostly African American college students, and some white people also volunteered. Angry white mobs, however, attacked these volunteers by committing heinous crimes. In Anniston, an angry white mob member threw a firebomb into the bus, but no one was killed. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
The same day President JFK was inaugurated, a young man named James Meredith applied as a transfer student to the University of Mississippi. James was an air force veteran, hoping to receive the same rights as white people, however, the governer of Mississippi was blocking this action. James had a court order, wanting this school except him, however, the Governer avoided it. JFK than ordered 500 fed. marshalls to escort him into the University. A white mob attacked, and fights occured all night. -
Protests in Birmingham
The conditions in Birmingham were brutal. Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor, who set up the attack on the Freedom Riders, was running for mayor. People were protesting due to the upsetting truth that Kennedy had not pushed for a new civil rights law. MLK Jr., a big contributor to these protests, was arrested only eight days after protests began. When in jail, the protests began to die down, however, when he was released, they rose up again. Stronger than ever. -
The March on Washington
On this day in history, more than 200,000 people from all races marched on the nation's capitol to fight for new civil rights laws. This became a peaceful gathering, where all races joined in harmony, fighting for a cause. MLK Jr. than gave a very legendary speech. The "I have a dream" speech. It pushed for equality of all and freedom of the underpriveledged. This gave much power to the civil rights movement. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Signed by President Johnson, this act was the most comprehensive act congress had ever passed. This law did a much better job of ridding of discrimination and segregation. It made segregation illegal in many places and gave citizens of all different backgrounds, freedom and equality of American people. This law also enforced the desegregation of school and the workplace. -
The Selma March
In january 1965, MLK Jr, and the SCLC selected Selma, Alabama to campaign their voting rights. On the day of the campaiging, 500 protesters marched toward U.S. Highway 80. Reaching Selma, Sheriff Clark told them to hault. More than 200 protestors knelt down to pray. Law enforcements soon rushed toward the protestors and beaten. This was soon known as "Bloody Sunday". Johnson was furious and soon proposed a new voting rights law. -
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
This voting rights act allowed the U.S. attorney general to send out examiners to watch over voters. Many people refused to give African Americans the authority to vote, even though it was legal, but this act refused to let any of that happen. This act also rid of racist and discrimination devices. The results of this act dramatically showed. By the end of the year over 250,000 African Americans registered to be voters. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
The civil rights movement made a huge impact on American culture, and MLK was certainly one to thank for it. On this date in history, he was assassinated by a sniper while giving a speech about "Poor People's Campaign" in Memphis. His assassination affected many. Riots broke out and violence occurred, but many still remembered in their hearts the change MLK Jr. had made for people in this country.
