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Brown vs. Board of Education Dec. 9- May 17, 1954

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Brown vs. Board of Education Dec. 9- May 17, 1954

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The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th amendment and was unconstitutional. This made it so the separate educational facilities for whites and African Americans were constitutionally unequal. There were 5 individual cases handled by the U.S. Supreme court.

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Pete Hernandez was an agricultural laborer who was convicted of murder. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme court unanimously decided to overturn his conviction due to the fact that Mexican Americans had been prohibited from participating in the jury that found him guilty and indicted him. This also violated the 14th amendment because it applies to all ethnic groups being discriminated against.

Quiz Question: Why was Hernandez's conviction violate the 14th amendment?

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Montgomery Bus Boycott Dec. 5, 1955- Dec. 20, 1956

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Montgomery Bus Boycott Dec. 5, 1955- Dec. 20, 1956

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This was a 13-month protest against the bus system of Montgomery, Alabama by civil rights activists and their supporters. They all thought segregation on public transportation was wrong and unjust. The boycott started when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white person on the bus which then incited the start of a revolution.

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The Little Rock Nine was a group of 9 students who were going to be the first colored students to attend public school with white students. On September 4, 1957, Little Rock Nine attempted to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas but the National Guard prevented them from entering. The group of students finally gained entry 16 days later when the National Guard was removed.

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The Civil Rights Act allowed for the prosecution of those who violated the right to vote for United States citizens. The act was signed by President Eisenhower.

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This was a nonviolent protest against a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. A group of African American students were denied service in a lunch room and refused to get up. Lots of the protesters were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace which ended up creating a long lasting impact and causing establishments to change their segregationists policies.

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The Freedom Rides was an interracial bus ride across state lines to test a Supreme Court decision that had declared segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional and unfair. This was run by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and CORE. The bus rides were through the upper south to avoid the more dangerous deep south.

Quiz Question: Why was segregation on public transportation declared unfair?

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James H. Meredith was the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. He was beginning a lone civil rights march through the south when he was shot and killed by a sniper. He is considered one hero of the civil rights movement. During his time at the University, he was guarded 24 hours a day by U.S. deputies, Marshalls, and arm troops. He endured lots of verbal harassment from other students at the campus.

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On this date the House decided to pass the 24th amendment which prohibited poll tax as a voting requirement in federal elections. Although this amendment was made, 5 states remained having poll taxes which ended up disproportionately affected African Americans. The five states were: Texas, Arkansas, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

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This was a letter written by Martin Luther King Junior from Birmingham Jail while being imprisoned. In this letter he attempted to explain and tell the world that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and take action rather than sitting back and waiting for justice to come through the courts. The letter was published in June of 1963 and his intended audience for this letter was the King's fellow clergy and the apathetic people of the United States.

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Martin Luther King Jr; Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963 - Film 1099228

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This was a monstrous protest where there were around 250,000 people who gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. This protest was for jobs and freedom as well to draw more attention to the challenges and inequalities African Americans were still facing. This is also where Martin Luther King Junior gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

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Bombing at Sixteenth St. Baptist- September 15th, 1963

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Bombing at Sixteenth St. Baptist- September 15th, 1963

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The 16th St. Baptist Church bombing was when a white supremacy terrorist group bombed the Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on a Sunday in Sep. of 1963. The church had served at a meeting place for civil rights leaders. The bomb went off before the services. The bombing gave the civil rights movement even more attention propelling the movement forward and it gained a large number of new supporters.

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Congress passed this public law prohibiting discrimination against the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. These went along with being hired or fired from a job as well. This ended segregation in all public places as well as in the workforce.

Quiz Question: What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit?

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The Freedom Summer, also known as the Mississippi Summer Project, aimed at increasing the number of registered African American voters, specifically in Mississippi. Over 700 white volunteers in Mississippi joined the fight and helped protest against discrimination and intimidation at the polls. This was also aimed to draw the nation's attention to the violent oppression experienced by African Americans who tried to exercise their constitutional rights.

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This was a federal legislation that established a variety of of social programs that aimed towards facilitating health, education, general welfares, and employment. This act was specifically for impoverished Americans and it was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson

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The March on Selma was when Martin Luther let thousands of nonviolent demonstrators to the capital of Montgomery, Alabama after a 54- mile march from Selma, Alabama. This was a 5 day trip and they marched to make sure African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote. The protest went on uninterrupted and their message reached Washington D.C. where the Voting Rights Act was Passed.

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This act was created due to the uproar of protesters in Montgomery, Alabama due the March of Selma. This act outlawed discriminatory voting practices adopted by some southern states after the civil war. This included literacy tests as a pending condition in order to vote. The act was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson.

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The Affirmative action was created to ensure that there were more opportunities for minorities. This established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance in the department of Labor to administer the order. It was signed by President Johnson and specifically forced contractors and subcontractors to expand their job opportunities.

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Malcolm X and the "Black Power" Movement-1966

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Malcolm X and the "Black Power" Movement-1966

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Malcolm X was an African American leader in the Civil Rights movement and supported African American nationalism. He preached to his fellow African American followers to protect them selves from white aggression by any means necessary which contradicted Martin Luther King's teachings. Malcolm inspired many other people and he became known as the leader of the Black Power Movement.

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Detroit Race Riots- July 23, 1967- July 28, 1967

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Detroit Race Riots- July 23, 1967- July 28, 1967

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The Detroit Race Riots were a series of violent confrontations between predominantly African American neighborhood residents and the Detroit police department. These encounters lasted 5 days which resulted in 43 deaths: 10 whites and 33 African Americans. The riots are known as some of the most violent and destructive riots.

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The Assassination of MLK- April 4, 1968  

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The Assassination of MLK- April 4, 1968  

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Martin Luther King Junior was struck in the face and killed on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. He was standing outside on the balcony of his second-story hotel room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray. This led to an uproar in anger from all civil rights activists and helped speed up an equal housing bill which ended up being the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era.

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April 4, 1968 - The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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The Flintstones debuted in the 1960's and became one of the most recognized kids cartoons of all time! It became the second most successful long-running cartoon series in TV history, it fell just short of the Simpsons.

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Julia Child's now legendary cookbook was published. It was a best seller for 5 years and helped establish herself as a culinary icon! She not only had cook books but she had her own tv show as well.

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https://blog.genealogybank.com/1960s-facts-fun-interesting-historical-usa-trivia.html

https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement

https://www.britannica.com/event/American-civil-rights-movement

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The 1960s witnessed some of the most iconic moments in modern history. In a single decade, we saw revolutions start and geniuses come and go. We also were able to see some of the most incredible feats in human achievement that would go on to define our lives to this very day.

Here are some of our favorite interesting facts about the 1960s in America.
1) A Giant Leap for Mankind
This is, without a doubt, near or at the top of every list of facts about the 1960s. On 20 July 1969, the human race defied the odds by stepping foot on the moon. The honor of being the first one, of course, goes to Neil Armstrong. He marked the momentous occasion with his famous line, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
2) An Iconic Hollywood Tradition Began
Although it feels like they were part of Hollywood ever since it began, the famous stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame weren't actually there until the 1960s. The honor of being the first actress to be placed on the Walk goes to Joanne Woodward.
3) The Flintstones Debuted
One of the most recognized kids' cartoons of all time, The Flintstones, debuted during the 1960s. The Hanna-Barbera production became the second-most-successful and longest-running cartoon series in television history, behind only The Simpsons.
4) Roger Maris, Record Breaker
Babe Ruth's all-time high record of 60 home runs in a season remained a lofty goal until Roger Maris of the New York Yankees beat it. He hit his 61st home run on the last game of the 1961 season, officially topping Ruth's record.
5) Julia Child Became a Household Hit
The culinary world would never be the same after this 1960s fun fact. The decade saw Julia Child publish her now-legendary cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It became a best-seller for the next five years and helped Child establish herself as a culinary icon. She also had her own TV show, The French Chef, in 1962.
6) Martin Luther King Jr. Delivered a Famous Speech
One of the most significant historical moments of the 1960s was Martin Luther King Jr. speaking before a crowd of 250,000 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August 1963. That speech, known as the "I Have a Dream' speech, marked a turning point in the civil rights movement in America. It's one of the most iconic speeches in American history.
7) President Kennedy Was Assassinated
Maybe the most well-known 1960 historical fact is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald on 22 November 1963. Just three years earlier, JFK won the presidential election against Richard Nixon. He holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever elected president.
8) Beatlemania Arrived in the U.S.
This 1960s fun fact marks the beginning of a musical craze in the U.S. On 9 February 1964, the Beatles first performed before a U.S. audience on the Ed Sullivan Show. They pulled in an incredible 75 million viewers, roughly three-fourths of the total audience in America at the time.
9) A Boxing Legend Was Born
If we were to compile a sports-focused list of 10 facts about the 1960s, the date 25 February 1964 would surely top it. It was when Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston and became the heavyweight champion of the world. Less than a month later, Clay would rename himself as Muhammad Ali.
10) A Famous Landmark Was Built
It's hard to imagine the city of St. Louis without it; that's why this 1960s fact might come as a surprise to most Americans. The famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis wasn't finished until halfway through the 1960s, on 28 October 1965.
11) Woodstock Happened
Although actually held 40 miles southwest of Woodstock, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, the Woodstock Rock Festival on 15-18 August 1969 brought together more than 400,000 fans to hear some of the greatest rock music every played, and to enjoy "3 Days of Peace & Music."
12) An Important Science Fiction Achievement
One of the most significant movie facts about the 60s is the debut of Stanley Kubrick's ambitious space film 2001: A Space Odyssey. While not well-received at the time, it eventually earned the status of many critics' "Best Films Ever Made" lists.
13) Defining the Childhood of an Entire Generation
On 10 November 1969, Sesame Street debuted on American television. The groundbreaking children's show featured a combination of live actors, puppets, and animation. It has since touched the lives of more than 80 million children, and continues to be watched in households across America to this very day.
14) Andy Warhol Rocked the Art World
In 1961, then commercial artist Andy Warhol first exhibited his works at the New York department store Bonwit Teller. This event marked a turning point for Warhol and helped put him at the forefront of the avant-garde art movement in the U.S.
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1960s Facts: Fun, Interesting & Historical USA Trivia

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The 1960s saw some of the most iconic moments in modern history. Explore fun facts and interesting USA trivia with GenealogyBank!