Individual History Timeline by Colbie Bell

Chicago’s “ugly” Law - May 1881

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-16 23:21:43 UTC

This law was passed in 1881 and “prohibited ‘diseased, maimed, mutilated, or … deformed’ persons from appearing in public.” The ugly laws prevented many people with disabilities from being in public and was a result of the stigma around people with disabilities. The ugly laws were an early example of unfair treatment towards people with disabilities in America.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 - November 29, 1975

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-16 23:27:50 UTC

This act, also known as the EHA, was passed under president Harry S. Truman and guaranteed a ‘free and appropriate public education’ (FAPE) to every child in the country with a disability. The EHA made sure that all children with disabilities were not barred from attending school and had the right to a free education regardless of disability.

“Deaf President Now” Campaign - March 1988

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-16 23:38:23 UTC

The “Deaf President Now” campaign took place at Gallaudet University, a school for deaf people in March of 1988. In this campaign, students held strikes at the university and demanded a deaf educator as the president of the school. In result, the students won and a deaf president was chosen, showing measures that were taken to make public areas more accessible for people with disabilities.

Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (ADAPT) - 1990

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-16 23:44:42 UTC

The ADAPT organization was an advocacy group that fell under the Americans with Disabilities Act signed by President Bush. This organization made efforts to secure the right for disabled people to have equal access to public transportation and public accommodations. ADAPT worked to win passage and enforcement of accessibility statutes to make everyday life more accessible for people with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) - July 26, 1990

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-16 23:48:42 UTC

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed under President Bush and was one of the most influential pieces of legislature for people with disabilities. This act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in most public places. The ADA made accommodations much more common and made it easier for people with disabilities to navigate the world.

Plessy v. Ferguson - May 18, 1896

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 02:34:15 UTC

A Supreme Court case that upheld the ruling that "seperate-but-equal" facilities were, in fact, constitutional and allowed for segregation to continue in the United States. As it was a Supreme Court case, it became precedent for many civil rights cases and severely held back the civil rights movement. Segregation would continue to be backed up by the courts and the constitution until its overturn by Brown v. Board of Education.

Niagara Movement - 1905

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 02:40:51 UTC

The Niagara Movement, which was begun by writer and scholar W. E. B. Du Bois, was created in an attempt to push for a fix in the racial injustices of the country. Their call for the end to segregation and discrimination caught the attention of many Americans and was seen as a bold movement, allowing for their message to at least be acknowledged by the nation. The movement, however, lacked funding and attendance and ended up dismembering in 1909 (many of the members became apart of the NAACP)

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - February 12, 1909

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 05:46:50 UTC

The NAACP is one of the most influential civil rights organizations which was founded around 1909-1910. This group made incredible progress as they operated through the court system, meaning they took their issues to the courts and gained a lot of attention. Some successes of the NAACP include Brown v. Board of Education and Guinn v. United States among thousands of other cases. The NAACP continues to make progress in present day civil rights motives.

March on Washington Movement - 1941

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 06:02:46 UTC

Under A. Philip Randolph (who was also the leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union), this movement was a planned massive march on the capital. This march was to protest discrimination in the armed forces as well as the defense industries. The march was also seen as a "symbolic inauguration" of a modern civil rights era by many civil rights activists. Resulted in the Fair Employment Practices Comittee.

Fair Employment Practices Committee - July 1941

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 06:07:54 UTC

This advisory committee was created by President Franklin Roosevelt in an attempt to promote racial integrations. It was a direct response to the March on Washington Movement as President Roosevelt attempted to persuade Randolph to call it off. This committee was very interesting because it was the first presidential order since Reconstruction for civil rights while also only being passed to quell the black mass movement that was uprising.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas - 1954

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 06:11:48 UTC

Brown v. Board was a Supreme Court case that overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson. It ruled that the idea of 'separate but equal' does not apply to public schools and banned segregation in public school. This court case laid a new precedent that would be used in hundreds of other civil rights cases, leaving a lasting impact on the movement.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 - July 2, 1964

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 06:17:08 UTC

This legislation was signed under President Lyndon B. Johnson within his first year of presidency. This Act barred segregation in nearly all public areas and outlawed racial discrimination in the workplace. The Civil Rights Act was a major step towards equality in America as African Americans were able to use the same facilities as white Americans.

Seneca Falls Convention - July 19-20, 1848

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 18:56:36 UTC

This convention was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Seneca Falls, New York. It was known as the beginning of the first wave of the women's rights movement and the Declaration of Sentiments was written during the convention. The Seneca Falls Convention paved the way to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.

President's Commission on the Status of Women - December 14, 1961

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 19:05:14 UTC

This commission was passed by President John F. Kennedy and was impactful as it was the first attempt by the U.S. government to deal with women's issues since the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Through it, the federal government gave a lot more attention to women's issues than it had in previous years. The commission's purpose was to examine discrimination about women and find ways to eliminate it.

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan - February 19, 1963

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 19:07:13 UTC

The Feminine Mystique was a novel written by women's rights activist Betty Friedan. The novel challenged the traditional ideals of women being limited to homemaking roles and was known for launching the second wave of the feminist movement. Betty Friedan influenced thousands of women into rethinking their content in the homes and voiced the opinions of women who deserved to be heard.

Equal Rights Amendment - 1972

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 19:30:56 UTC

The Equal Rights Amendment was revived during the second wave of the women's rights movement and called for complete equality for women through constitutional rights. The ERA was passed in both houses of Congress, but failed to get ratified by the states and ended up expiring. The ERA was seen as both a failure due to its expiration and a success due to the fact that it gained attention and added to the momentum of the women's rights movement.

National Organization for Women - June 1966

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 19:40:50 UTC

The NOW organization was a response to the failure of the EEOC (established under the Civil Rights Act of 1964). NOW operated similarly to the way NAACP does as it brought their issues to the courts to gain recognition and hopefully pass legislation. NOW was important as it brought a lot of attention to the women's rights movement.

Million Woman March - October 25, 1997

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-17 19:44:45 UTC

The Million Woman March was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and highlighted the presence of women of color in the women's rights movement. More than 300,000 African American women marched for women's rights as well as economic rights in the black community. The Million Woman March was a parallel to the Million Man March which excluded women from participating.

The Fifteenth Amendment - February 3, 1870

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:12:37 UTC

The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution granted the right to vote for all male citizens in the United States. This Amendment secured African American men the right to vote, regardless of ethnicity or previous slave status. It also showed that in theory, no man could be denied the right to vote, although it wasn't executed correctly due to racist beliefs that stilled rage through the country. It was seen as a success for the African American community as well as the suffrage movement in general, while also reminding women of their inferiority as white women were still barred from voting.

The Nineteenth Amendment - August 18, 1920

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:20:56 UTC

The Nineteenth Amendment was the landmark ratification of a law that secured the right to vote for all women in America. It was a major success of the suffrage movement which had worked for over 50 years to secure women's voting rights. The Nineteenth Amendment was greatly impacted and pushed forward as a response to women playing significant roles on the home front during World War I.

Executive Order 9981 - July 26, 1948

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:24:37 UTC

This order was passed under President Harry Truman after World War II, when the country saw how much African Americans impacted the war effort. Under it, the United States armed forces was mandated to desegregate and African Americans were able to join the armed forces the same way white men were. The order showed the acknowledgement of African American efforts and saw a push for African Americans' civil rights.

Gomillion v. Lightfoot - November 14, 1960

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:44:24 UTC

Gomillion v. Lightfoot was a landmark voting rights case under the Supreme Court that was decided in 1960. The case invalidated a district that was weirdly shaped in order to prevent African Americans from voting in Tuskegee, Alabama. The ruling was influential because it gained more attention for the voting right of African Americans in the United States.

The Twenty-fourth Amendment - January 23, 1964

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:47:22 UTC

The Twenty-fourth Amendment was ratified in 1964 and abolished/forbade the imposing of taxes on voters during elections by federal and state governments. It eliminated the condition for voting of a poll tax and allowed lower-class Americans the right to vote. This amendment helped to expand voting rights in America and broke down a discriminatory barrier in the voting process.

Voting Rights Act - August 6, 1965

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:50:17 UTC

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson as a response to the Selma to Montgomery march of 1965. This act gave power to the federal government to enforce voting rights and focus especially on states that were known for suppressing the African American vote. The Voting Rights Act allowed many more African Americans to exercise their right to vote.

The Twenty-sixth Amendment - July 1, 1971

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 02:57:43 UTC

The Twenty-sixth Amendment was a response to the military draft during the Vietnam War applying to men above the age of 18 years old, while the voting age remained at 21 years old. Pressure to lower the voting age to 18 was seen as these people felt that individuals were drafted to potentially die but were not eligible to vote being an unfair call. The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 years old, expanding the breadth of voting rights to younger people.

Lynching of Emmett Till - August 28, 1955

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 03:40:44 UTC

Emmett Till was lynched for allegedly accosting a white female shopkeeper while exiting the drugstore. Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam were arrested and put on trial, but the all white jury acquitted the accused of all charges, showing the extreme injustice in the court system. Till's death caused an outrage and the NAACP used his murder to gain support for the civil rights movement by showing that not enough change had been done.

The Southern Manifesto - March 1956

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 03:52:27 UTC

The Southern Manifesto was a document written by Congress in 1956 that opposed the racial integration of public places in the United States. It was signed by 100 congressman and 19 senators from eleven previous Confederate states which called the Brown decision "an abuse of judicial power." It supported resistance to the implementation of desegregation through "any lawful means" attempting to maintain Jim Crow.

1936 Summer Olympics - August 1936

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 04:04:19 UTC

The 1936 Summer Olympics was held in Berlin, Germany where Adolf Hitler attempted to show off and lend prestige to the Third Reich (including his ideas of Aryan supremacy) as it was the first Olympics to be broadcasted. However, African American track and field athlete won four gold medals during the events, undermining German victories. The 1936 Berlin Olympics were important because it showed the entire world that African American men were capable of the same things white people are and added to the momentum of the civil rights movement.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire - March 25, 1911

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 06:36:38 UTC

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory was burned in 1911 and is a notable event as the deaths of the 146 workers (majority women) could have been prevented. The victims deaths were because of the lack of safety features and locked doors within the company's factory, which brought attention to the dangers of sweatshops. The tragedy did lead to the development of laws and regulations to protect the safety of workers.

Ms. - December 1971

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 06:41:03 UTC

Ms. was a magazine founded by women's rights activist Gloria Steinem as well as Dorothy Pittman Hughes. This monthly publication was dedicated to women and gave them a platform for their social problems and aspirations to be heard. Ms. was the first women's magazine that was nationally circulated to bring women's rights issues mainstream and broadened the reach of the movement.

Equal Pay Act - June 10, 1963

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 06:44:37 UTC

The Equal Pay Act was signed into law under President John F. Kennedy and started the decrease of the wage gap between men and women. It required women to be paid the same amount as men for equal work in the same workplace. The EPA ensured that women were to be paid the same wages as men and prohibited sex-based discrimination in the form of wages.

#MeToo Movement - 2017

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 06:53:45 UTC

The #MeToo movement originally began in 2006, but gained the most attention in 2017 when Alyssa Milano urged sexual harassment victims to share their stories. This movement was mostly on social media and gave a voice to hundreds of American women who were victims of sexual abuse and harassment. The #MeToo movement brought the subject of sexual harassment against women to the public view as it became a large social movement.

Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOA) - March 24, 1972

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 07:00:01 UTC

This Act was passed in Congress in 1972 under President Richard Nixon. Under the EEOA, Title VII was amended and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was given the authority to enforce litigation on its own.

Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 - February 5, 1993

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 07:03:59 UTC

The FMLA was passed under Bill Clinton and was part of his first-term domestic agenda. This act required that employees be paid up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for the birth or adoption of a child, a chronic illness, or to take care of a family member with a serious illness. This act allowed for women to have children without the threat of being fired or not getting paid for their absence.

Anne Bradstreet "The Tenth Muse" Released - 1650

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 18:02:42 UTC

Anne Bradstreet was a woman from Massachusetts Bay Colony who wrote poetry. Her first book of poetry was released in 1650 and she was the first woman that was recognized as an accomplished New World Poet. Bradstreet was the first woman to be published in the American colonies, setting the stage for all future woman writers in the future.

The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) - November 1869

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 18:07:39 UTC

This organization was founded in November of 1869 by Lucy Stone and colleagues. Its goal was to bring about female voting rights in America and provide a platform for the discussion to be talked about. AWSA worked through amending state constitutions as opposed to the NWSA which worked to amend the federal constitution.

World War II - 1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945

ckb2601_1 — 2024-04-18 18:09:53 UTC

World War II saw the drafting of thousands of American men who left their jobs at home to fight in the war. As a result, around 18 million women took jobs previously filled by men to support the war effort. Women working in the workplace showed America what they were capable of if allowed the same opportunities as men.