Civil Rights Timeline by Rachel Choi (CH)

13th Amendment (1865)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:39:19 UTC

This amendment was passed following the aftermath of the Civil War. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, and outlawed involuntary servitude. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments; the 14th and 15th followed soon after.

14th Amendment (1868)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:39:41 UTC

It granted citizenship to every person born or naturalized in the U.S. The Amendment also provided citizens with "equal protections under the law." It helped lead to the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

15th Amendment (1870)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:42:05 UTC

This amendment stated that the right to vote could not be denied on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." It gave African American men the right to vote. The Reconstruction Amendments did not prevent racial discrimination laws from taking place, as seen by Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow Laws (1865-1965)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:42:09 UTC

Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws that upheld racial segregation in the Southern U.S. African Americans were subject to threats, violence, and even murder under the laws. These laws were eventually overturned by Brown v Board and the Civil Right Act.

19th Amendment (1920)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:56:20 UTC

The 19th Amendment prohibited the U.S from denying citizens the right to vote based on gender, giving women the right to vote. Millions of women could now vote, but African Americans and Native Americans continued to face barriers.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:56:36 UTC

The Supreme Court ruled that separating children in schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. Brown v Board was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and led to the integration of schools. It overruled the Plessy v Ferguson case, which initiated the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Dred Scott v Sandford (1857)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 17:57:24 UTC

Dred Scott claimed that since he was taken into "free territory", he was no longer a slave. However, the Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were not U.S citizens, and thus did not enjoy the same privileges as mentioned in the Constitution. It paved the way for other discriminatory acts, such as Jim Crow Laws, to be put in place.

Central High (1957)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:00:29 UTC

Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students enrolled at Little Rock Central High. The attempted integration of the previously all-white school resulted in a National Guard blockade. The conflict drew nationwide and international attention, and marked a pivotal milestone in the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:00:45 UTC

The law outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. It prohibited discrimination in employment & public places, and integrated facilities & schools. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 brought a definite legal end to Jim Crow Laws and other discriminatory laws.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:01:03 UTC

The Voting Rights Act prohibited racial discrimination in voting. It led to immediate increases in voter registration and turnouts, particularly among African Americans. The act enforced the voting rights established in the 14th and 15th Amendment.

Affirmative Action (1965)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:01:32 UTC

President LBJ issued Executive Order 11246, which required contractors to implement AA plans to increase participation of women and minorities in the workplace. Affirmative Action is controversial; opponents argue that it is reverse discrimination. In June 2023, Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious college admissions was unconstitutional.

Roe v Wade (1973)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:02:18 UTC

The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution generally protects the right for women to have an abortion. This was justified through the right to privacy implied in the 14th amendment. In 2022, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v Wade after 50 years of precedent.

Bakke vs. UC (1978)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:02:24 UTC

After being rejected by UC Davis, Bakke challenged the constitutionality of the school's affirmative action program. The Supreme Court upheld affirmative action, but ruled that specific racial quotas were not allowed.

Plessy v Ferguson (1896)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 18:04:14 UTC

Homer Plessy, a mixed man, boarded a whites-only train car, and he was pressed with charges. This case ruled that racial segregation laws did not violate the U.S Constitution as long as the separate facilities were equal. This legitimized Jim Crow Laws, and showed that the 14th Amendment did not protect minority groups against them.

De Jure Segregation (1896)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 19:53:35 UTC

Plessy v Ferguson authorized states to impose racial segregation laws by law under the "separate but equal doctrine." This led to decades of racial discrimination until it was brought to an end in the 1960s through the passage of civil rights acts.

De Facto Segregation (1964-)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 19:55:43 UTC

Even after racial segregation laws were legally overruled, minority groups were still subject to segregation in housing, education, and employment. African Americans still dealt with unfair treatment in schools and other facilities.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 19:59:22 UTC

The act requires that men and women in the workplace must be given equal wages for their work. It was signed by JFK, and aimed to reduce the gender pay gap. It was the first of a series of laws that gave women greater opportunities and mobility in the workplace.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 20:03:48 UTC

This law prohibited discrimination based on disability in employment, public places, transportation, and other areas. It provided similar protections as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and provided disabled people with accomodations. ADA has been largely successful.

Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 20:07:08 UTC

The act prohibited discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. It was passed as a direct response to a Supreme Court ruling that pregnancy discrimination was not a form of sex discrimination. PDA prohibits employers from firing or mistreating workers because of pregnancies.

Loving v Virginia (1967)

201768_4 — 2024-03-04 20:13:21 UTC

The Supreme Court ruled that laws banning interracial marriage violated the Equal Protections and Due Process Clauses in the 14th Amendment. After Loving v Virginia, interracial marriages have increased. It has also been discussed in the context of same-sex marriages.