- Barak Obama becomes president
Jan 20, 2009Barak Hussain Obama become the 44th President of the United States. First Black President every in the United States. Important because it shows how equal African Americans adn Whites are today.
- Voting Act of 1965
Aug 6, 1965Gave woting rights to every American citizen over the age of 18, Including Blacks and Women. True End to Civil Rights Movement.
- Civil Rights Act of 1964
Jul 2, 1964Act of United States government that banned segragation in the United States. Could not segragate Blacks or Women. Ended the Civil Rights Movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LBJ_Civil_Rights_signing_1964_edited.ogg
- March on Washington
Aug 28, 1963An estimated 200,000 people marched into and through Washington DC demanding jobs and freedom. 75-80% were black, others were mostly white. Incompased MLK's "I have a Dream" speech, adn the Civil rights act of 1964. Important because it was the last major event of the rights movement and it sparked what gave African Americans rights.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gave 'I have a Dream' speech
Aug 28, 196316 minute speech by Martin Luther King, to over 200,000 civil right supporters, on the steps of the Lincoln Monument. Thought as one of the greatest speeches ever given in American History. Important to the rights movement because it inspired people in DC, America and in the whole World. Continues to inspire people today.
- Children's March
Jul 1, 1963March to Birminghams downtown to speak to mayor about segregation, marchers mostly consisted of high school aged kids. Police brought out fire hoses to force back marchers. Marked the turn of the rights movement. This was important to the movement because it showed the government that the African Americans weren't going to give up and all of them were willing to fight for what they wanted.
- Freedom Rides
May 4, 1961An event where many civil rights activists rode interstate busses from the North to the South. They did this to test the decision made in the Boyton vs Virginia case, that declared segragation in interstate transport to be illegal, also got more activists into south. Important because it tested the governments policies and brought more civil right movers into the South where they were needed.
- Little Rock 9
19579 African American kids attended Little Rock Central High School by order of President Eisenhower. This stirred up much criticism of the President in the South, and much praise in the North. This was one of the biggest turning points in the rights movement because Washington started backing it up and African American Adults started realizing if these 9 kids had the courage to attend an all white school, then they should have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
- Montgomery Bus Boycott
Dec 1, 1955Boycott of Montgomery public buses starting after Rosa Parks a 42 year old African American woman wouldn't give up her seat to a white person and was arrested. Didn't end until Washington declared bus segregation as unconstitutional.
- Death of Emmit Till
Aug 28, 195514 year old Emmit Till murdered for whistling at a white woman. Beat by 2 white men until death, and thrown into river. Became national headline and spared civil rights movement. This is important to African American history because it sparked the rights movement and showed many African Americans that no one is safe until there is change.
- Brown vs Board of Education
May 17, 1954Court decision that ruled that all schools are to be equal and that segregation is not allowed in schools. Didn't actually effect anything until later when African Americans tried to get into white schools. This was important because It was the first time the Supreme court ruled in African American favor, this gave African Americans hope that they could actually be 'free'
- Military Integration
Jul 25, 1948President Harry S. Truman signs executive order 9981, which fully integrated the military. This is important to African American History because it was one of the first rights (other than freedom) that African Americans got.
- Jackie Robinson breaks MLB color barrier
Apr 15, 1947Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in the MLB when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers at second base. This is important to the rights movement because Jackie showed that African Americans could do anything the set their hearts on doing.
- Emancipation Proclamation Signed
Jan 1, 1863President Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, bans slavery in the united states. This is important to African American History because if African Americans were slaves they couldn't boycott or march because they would still be someone's property.
- First Africans Imported for Slavery
1619In 1619 the first shipments of slaves to the then American Colony of Virginia happened. These Slaves were used to harvest tobacco, cotton, sugar and coffee. By 1860 there were nearly 4 million African Slaves in America.
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