This timeline of the Civil Rights Movement was created by Taft's sensational second period American history class at USM.
Created by mtaftmtaft on May 7, 2008
Last updated: 04/23/13 at 05:56 AM
Russell Means and a group called the American Indian Movement (AIM) gained control of Wounded Knee. The AIM began to protest the reservations government which was led by Dickie Wilson. The AIM claimed Dickie silenced his critics through intimidation and violence. The protest took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation where the Wounded Knee massacre took place in 1890. The Protest lasted 71 days with 2 deaths, 12 injured and 1,200 arrested. The AIM was inspired by the civil rights movements in the 1960's and put Native American rights in the spotlight.
A controversial and much debated amendment, the Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed in the U.S. Congress in 1923. Since that time, it has been introduced in Congress on several occasions, most notably in 1972, when it was approved by both houses with a seven-year deadline for ratification. At the end of that seven-year period, however, only 35 of the needed 38 states had ratified the amendment, and some of these states had attempted to rescind their ratifications. Although supporters managed to push a three-year extension of the deadline through Congress in 1979, the amendment still failed to garner the requisite number of state endorsements. Subsequent attempts to pass the amendment through Congress have met with no success.
http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/
Alcatraz was an island prison from in use from 1933 to 1963 where the most dangerous prisoners were located. In 1969, six years after it was out of use, native americans went to occupy it to show the mistreatment of their race by the federal government. This lasted for a year and a half, until 1970. contributed by charlie kies
At 6:01 pm, april 4, 1968, Dr. King was standing on his balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel and a shot was fired. He was hit and wounded in a large portion of his jaw and neck. This incident caused violence and controversy. Many african americans flooded the streets in riots following his death
http://history1900s.about.com/cs/martinlutherking/a/mlkassass.htm
The Detroit riots were the most violent of seven riots in the Civil Rigths Movement; it lasted for for days, 43 people were killed and over 4,000 people were arrested or detained. It was started when police broke up an after hours bar in an African American area and after police arrested people in the bar with uneccesary force, people were outraged and came out to protest. Once police left, riots broke out all over the urban area and many businesses were burned and over 50 million dollars in damage was caused. This showed the violence that could be created by discrimination.
-Nicole
http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/index.htm
This landmark Supreme Court decision ended the legal restraint against interracial marriages in the United States. Both residents of Caroline County, Virginia, the Lovings had to be married in the U.S. District of Columbia in 1958 due to the fact that their home state had active miscegenation laws for hundreds of years. When the newlyweds returned home, they were arrested, and forced to move from their home. Within the following year, the Lovings sued Virginia stating that the state's miscegenation laws violated their rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The case was taken all the way to the Supreme Court, and in 1967, in a unanimous decision, the legal restraints over interracial marriage were outlawed everywhere in the United States.
-Ali R.
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/loving.html
La Raza Unida originally formed from Chicano disagreement over the Democratic Party's decisions. The group believed President Johnson's programs and policies were aimed solely to benefit African Americans. This organization lead to more representation of Chicanos in the U.S. -Margeaux H.
La Raza Unida originally formed from Chicano disagreement over the Democratic Party's decisions. The group believed President Johnson's programs and policies were aimed solely to benefit African Americans. This organization lead to more representation of Chicanos in the U.S. -Margeaux H.
La Raza Unida originally formed from Chicano disagreement over the Democratic Party's decisions. The group believed President Johnson's programs and policies were aimed solely to benefit African Americans. This organization lead to more representation of Chicanos in the U.S. -Margeaux H.
La Raza Unida originally formed from Chicano disagreement over the Democratic Party's decisions. The group believed President Johnson's programs and policies were aimed solely to benefit African Americans. This organization lead to more representation of Chicanos in the U.S. -Margeaux H.
On August 11 a riot broke out in an African-American ghetto known as Watts located in Los Angeles, California. Over the course of one week, 34 people were killed and over 1,000 injured as masses of angry people looted neighborhoods, burned and destroyed white-owned buildings and homes, and attacked police officers and the National Guard. These riots sparked similar ones- particularly in Chicago. -Kayleigh
The voting rights act of 1965 prevented literary and other types of tests that were meant to prevent blacks from voting. This bill was pushed through congress by President Johnson. This was a very effective piece of legislation that federal officials were sent to enforce. Because of this law, there was a 10% increase in voter registration in the south. -Julia
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=31&entryid=255236&searchtext=voting+rights+act+of+1965&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
After an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Malcolm X's family in their New York home seven days earlier, his enemies finally succeded at a speech at Manhattan's Audobon Ballroom on February 21, 1965. Three armed men rushed him onstage and shot him 15 times. He was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbytarian Hospital.
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/home.php
The council of Federated Organizations launched a campaign in 1964 that was meant to increase voter registration in Mississippi. The campaign was met by whites with extreme violence that lasted throughout the summer. One observer estimated that by summer's end, whites had killed three additional volunteers, beaten 80, shot at 35, burned more than 30 churches to the ground, and bombed about 30 buildings. The freedom summer is an example of the extreme racial violence in the south. -Julia
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=370928&searchtext=freedom+summer&type=simple&option=all
The March on Washington was a peaceful poilitical rally that took place in Washington D.C. At this rally, over 200,000 participants of a motley of races, joined at Lincoln Memorial to hear MLK deliver his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. Following the march, the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the National Voting Rights Act (1965) were passed.
-Ali R.
http://www.wgbh.org/article?item_id=1069413
At the age of 37, Medgar Evers was shot in the back while walking up his front steps. Byron De La Beckwiths, (member of the ku klux klan) fingerprints were found on the gun used in the murder. He was swiftly arrested after his crime. After his release, Beckwith was reported to have bragged about the murder at a Klan rally.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmjustice2.html
The Equal Pay Act was enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives. This act prohibited gender discrimination in the payment of wages. -Alexandra Picture from: http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=31&searchtext=equal+pay+act&type=simple&option=all&entryid=294172&issublink=true&fromsearch=false
Martin Luther King led a protest march in Birmingham, Alabama that not only consisted of adults, but also school children. At the time, Birmingham was one of the most racially segregated towns in the United States. The march and protest lasted several week sand consisted mainly of children under 18. On the first day more that 12 hundered kids skipped school to join the march. Martin Luther King would say, "I can not imagine the horror of asking children to do this". Many who marched were injured or killed and almost all were thrown in jail.
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0126872/main.php?pic=rtm&left=rtm¢er=alabama&right=rtm
James Meredith was a black American born in the south in 1933. He served in the US Military for 9 years in the 50s before deciding to go to college to complete a degree. After attending Jackson State, and all black college, he decided he wanted to transfer to the University of Mississippi. He worked with Medgar Evans and the NAACP to take his case to the Supreme Court to allow him to attend U of MS. The Supreme Court then ordered the university to accept Meredith. On October 1st, 1962, James Meredith registered to attend classes at the University of MS. Federal troops were brought in to uphold the court order, but there were violent protests carried out by segregationists.
James Meredith's courage and willingness to stand up against tremendous injustice had a profound impact on helping build momentum for the larger Civil Rights movement.
As you can see from the embedded video, the riots that took place in protest of James Meredith's attending Ole Miss were EXTREMELY violent.
Resources: JFK Library (see link below) and ABC-CLIO
Contributed by: Matt Montagne
http://www.jfklibrary.org/meredith/jm.html
The Freedom Riders were both black and white people who traveled to the South from the North on buses in 1961 and were a part of the Congress of Racial Equality. They protested racial segregation in public transportation buses by testing to see if those facilities were still segregated despite a 1960 Supreme Court ruling. This group faced harassment and violent attacks but the Freedom Riders stayed nonviolent forced the integration of 120 bus terminals in the South.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=38&entryid=260789&searchtext=freedom+riders&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greensboro Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
The Greenhouse Sit-ins was, four African American college, and they led a wave of civil rights demonstrations. The students were Ezell Blair, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They asked for service at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and they were refused service. They did not leave until the restaurant closed. This was the start of sit-ins spreading across the United States.
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=312987&searchtext=greensboro+sit-ins&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=2,4,
Nine African American students started attending Little Rock High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were the first children to start going to an all white school. The govenor of Arkansas, Governor Faubus did not want the Little Rock Nine to attend and set up guards outside of the school to keep them out. This caused many riots and the children were stalked by the masses of upset parents. Once they finally were allowed to enter the school they still found no safety. Their peers taunted them and bullied them in the worst ways imaginable. It was a great struggle but i meant the beginning of the equal rights movement.
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/ak1.htm
On this day Rosa Parks and a few other African-Americans were on a bus when a group of whites came on. The bus driver told them to move anad all of them did, except Rosa. She was arrested and sent to jail. This greatly asngered the african American population and they started a bus strike that lasted 13 months and ended on November 13, 1956 with the law that made it illegal for there to be bus segregation. - Kevlyn
Protests broke out for the slaying of Emmett Till. The NAACP joined the riots in a huge anti-lynching ani-racial brutality protest.
Emmett
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=793084&searchtext=emmett+till&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=4,
Emmett was tortured, beaten, shot in the head and lynched because of the two words he said to a white women. "Bye, baby." This led to riots of anti-lynching due to the pure brutality of his murder.
Emmett
http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=21&entryid=252882&searchtext=emmett+till&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=4,
This landmark Supreme Court decision overturned the separate but equal doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson by saying that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The decision came as a result of a collection of cases filed by African American parents asking that their children be admitted to schools for whites only. While the decision did not immediately lead to desegregation of schools and other public facilities, it set the stage for the beginning of the end of segregation and Jim Crow America.
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/brown/
He dropped out of school at the age of 15, and soon after he was sent to jail for theft. Upon, his release, he dedicates himself to the nation of Islam after studying it while in jail. He would soon become the most effective speaker/organizer, organizing many new mosques and greatly increased the movement's membership.
http://www.aavw.org/protest/homepage_malcolmx.html
Update Sources
