Civil Rights Timeline: The Journey Through Equality and Justice by Alyssa Luu (CH)

1857: Dred Scott v. Sandford

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This Supreme Court decision decided that whether enslaved or free, African Americans could not be seen as citizens in the court. This greatly jeopardized the status of freed people in the North and perpetuated slavery in the South.

1865: 13th Amendment

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Abolished slavery throughout the United States, marking a monumental step in the fight for civil rights and laying the groundwork for future legal and societal changes supporting equality. However, an included clause state that slavery or involuntary servitude is still legal as a punishment for a crime.

1868: 14th Amendment

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Guaranteed equal protection under the laws to all citizens, significantly impacting civil rights by establishing the principle of equal treatment and protection for all, regardless of race.

1870: 15th Amendment

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Granted all men the right to vote, including African American men, attempting to ensure more inclusive participation in the democratic process and addressing one of the fundamental injustices of the time.

1883: Chinese Exclusion Act

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This act marked the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States, specifically targeting Chinese laborers, and reflecting racial prejudices and economic fears of the time. Despite being a clearly and explicitly racist piece of legislation, the Chinese Exclusion Act continued for 60 years.

1896: Plessy v. Ferguson

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The Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine, paving the way for the establishment of Jim Crow laws across the South.

1920: 19th Amendment

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Widened the scope of civil rights by granting women the right to vote, a pivotal moment in the women’s suffrage movement and a significant advancement toward gender equality in America.

1941: Executive Order 8802

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt's order prohibiting racial discrimination in the national defense industry, the first federal action to promote equal opportunity and prohibit employment discrimination in the United States.

1942: Executive Order 9066

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Authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, highlighting the vulnerabilities of civil rights during periods of national crisis.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education

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The Supreme Court's decision that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, signaling a significant blow to the practice of segregated education.

1957: Central High School Integration