Historical Context for the Civil Rights Movement by Nurzahan Chowdhury

1607 - American colonies are settled by the British

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:24:23 UTC

This was the start of colonialism as the British colonized America and created colonies throughout the country. This gave the British more land and economic opportunities.

1776 - American Revolution

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:26:00 UTC

American colonists were tired of the control that the British had over them, as they were extremely strict with trading rules and limited freedom. As a result, the colonists started a revolution to gain their independence.

1787 - US Constitution ratified

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:27:16 UTC

The American colonists successfully gained their independence, making themselves a free country. They created the Constitution, which housed the ground rules for the country, being the supreme law.

1861-1865 - American Civil War

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:29:54 UTC

The North and the South fought over slavery and other economic differences, splitting the country between the Union and Confederates. In the end, the Union won and led to great political/social changes in the US.

1909 - NAACP founded by W.E.B. DuBois

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:31:14 UTC

The civil rights organization, named NAACP, was created to eliminate racial discrimination and assert equal rights across all of the US, allowing black Americans to experience equality.

1914-1918 - World War I

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:32:46 UTC

The first world war broke out between the allies and central powers due to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, leading to conflict between many world powers. This war eventually ended through the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

1941-1945 - World War II

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:34:32 UTC

This was the second world warm between the allies and axis powers, which was a result of the Treaty of Versailles attacking Germany economically, politically, and socially. Due to this, a war broke out in which Nazi Germany invaded Poland and war was declared by Britain and France.

1954 - Brown VS Board of Education

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:37:06 UTC

Public schools were separated between races, leading to a "separate but equal," ideology that prevented integration. As a result, Oliver Brown, whose child was denied admission to a white school, sued the board of education and won. In the end, schools were no longer segregated.

1950s-1960s - Civil Rights Movement

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:39:09 UTC

Despite America's progressiveness, there was still existing discrimination against Black Americans. As a result, many activists, including Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks, working to abolish racial segregation and reach equality for all through a series of movements.

Fugitive Slave Act

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:39:52 UTC

Truman de-segregates the military

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:42:51 UTC

Amendments 13, 14, 15

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:44:11 UTC

Voting rights act

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:45:53 UTC

KKK founded

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:46:40 UTC

Harlem Renaissance

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:48:17 UTC

First slaves imported to America

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:49:14 UTC

Plessy V Ferguson

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:49:57 UTC

Dred Scott V Sanford

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:51:20 UTC

3/5 Compromise

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:52:31 UTC

GI Bill

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:54:09 UTC

Emancipation Proclamation

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:54:57 UTC

Federal Housing Administration

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:56:18 UTC

Little rock 9

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:57:13 UTC

White flight

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 19:59:40 UTC

Montgomery bus boycott

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 20:00:53 UTC

Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 20:02:06 UTC

Civil Rights Act

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 20:02:52 UTC

Explanation:

nurzahanc1 — 2025-05-16 20:06:16 UTC

By this quote, Martin Luther King meant while the road to justice is long, humanity will eventually reach it as justice is always met. Humanity tends to "bend towards it," being drawn to meeting equality. Even though getting to that point is going to take a long time and be difficult, the goal will be reached inevitably.