Civil Rights Timeline: From Legislation to Landmark Cases by Ariana Arroyo (CH)

1865: 13th Amendment

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:46 UTC

The 13th Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States, marking a transformative moment in the nation's history. This significant legislation laid the foundations for the future of civil rights in America.

1868: 14th Amendment

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:47 UTC

The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people, and promised equal protection of the laws. It has since played a crucial role in numerous landmark Supreme Court cases.

1870: 15th Amendment

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:47 UTC

The 15th Amendment prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, paving the way for African Americans to exercise their voting rights. However, implementation faced significant obstacles.

1896: Plessy vs. Ferguson

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:48 UTC

The Supreme Court case of Plessy vs. Ferguson established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, essentially legalizing racial segregation. This decision would shape American society for decades until its overturn by Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954.

1920: 19th Amendment

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:48 UTC

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women the right to vote, a milestone in the struggle for gender equality in the United States. This victory came after decades of activism by the women's suffrage movement.

1954: Brown vs. Board of Education

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:48 UTC

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine and marking a pivotal point in the civil rights movement.

1957: Central High School Integration

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:49 UTC

The Little Rock Nine became symbols of the desegregation struggle when they faced violent opposition to their enrollment at the previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, highlighting the challenges of de facto segregation.

1964: Civil Rights Act

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:49 UTC

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, significantly advancing the civil rights movement.

1973: Roe v. Wade

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:49 UTC

The Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade protected a pregnant woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction, marking a significant moment for women's rights in the United States.

1978: Bakke v. Regents

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 17:57:49 UTC

The Supreme Court case of Bakke v. Regents challenged affirmative action policies in university admissions. The Court's decision upheld the use of race as one of many factors in admissions, sparking ongoing debates about affirmative action.

1955: Montgomery Bus Boycott

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:02:02 UTC

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a significant political and social protest campaign against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system of Montgomery, Alabama. This marked the rise of Martin Luther King Jr. efforts to change civil rights which was crucial to development of civil rights for people.

1967: Loving v. Virginia (De Jure Segregation)

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:03:46 UTC

Loving v. Virginia was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down laws banning interracial marriage. This decision highlighted the importance of the Civil Rights Movement in challenging and changing discriminatory laws and practices related to race.

1857: Dred Scott Decision

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:08:41 UTC

The Dred Scott Decision was a pivotal Supreme Court verdict that declared African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and thus had no right to sue in federal court. Additionally, the court ruled that the federal government could not prohibit slavery in the territories, igniting a national controversy over the legality and morality of slavery.

1965: Voting Rights Act

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:09:55 UTC

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated various devices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, that had traditionally been used to restrict voting by African Americans. This act was a significant milestone in the civil rights movement, ensuring the enforcement of the 15th amendment and thereby prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.

1990: American Disability Act

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:16:40 UTC

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.

1971: Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (De Facto Segregation)

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:17:56 UTC

The Supreme Court ruling that upheld the use of busing to achieve integration in public schools, addressing the issue of de facto segregation. This decision reinforced the principles of Brown vs. Board of Education, ensuring that action was taken to dismantle segregated schooling systems.

1965: Affirmative Action

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:19:51 UTC

Affirmative action policies were developed to counteract the lingering effects of centuries of racial discrimination. By promoting equal opportunity in education and employment, these policies aim to level the playing field for minorities and women.

1870: Jim Crow Laws

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:22:01 UTC

Jim Crow laws mandated racial segregation in all public facilities in the states of the former Confederate States of America and in some others. These laws severely limited the civil rights of African Americans and other newly freed slaves following the civil war.

1968: Fair Housing Act

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:22:58 UTC

This act was passed shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., intending to eliminate discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex. It marked a significant step towards combating de facto segregation in housing.

1960: New Orleans School Desegregation Crisis

249328_2 — 2024-03-05 18:28:19 UTC

New Orleans elementary schools began desegregation. Leona Tate, Tessie Provost, and Gail Etienne, enrolled at McDonogh 19 Elementary School, while Ruby Bridges enrolled at William Frantz Elementary School. They became known as The New Orleans Four. This was a significant step in applying the new civil rights granted by Brown vs Board of Education.