• Brown v. Board of Education- 1954, Supreme
Court case: Oliver Brown vs Board of Education
of Topeka, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
racial segregation in public schools violated the
14th Amendment. This allowed for equal
opportunity in education.
• Desegregation of Central High
School- 1957, Governor Orval Faubus
ordered the Arkansas National Guard
to prevent African American
students from enrolling. President
Eisenhower insured the protection of
black students enrolling at Central
High School.
Riots/Strikes
• Watts Riot- 1967, A black suspect was pulled over by
a white police officer. The suspect claimed to be
treated wrongly and the arrest soon was blamed on
police racism. A six day riot witch marked a shift from
nonviolence.
• Freedom Rides- 1961, civil rights activists rode interstate
buses into the segregated U.S. to challenge the 1946 and
1960 Supreme Court decision that was not being enforced.
The violence caught President Kennedy’s attention and the
Interstate Commerce Commission issued rules prohibiting
segregated transportation.
• Occupation of Alcatraz- 1969,
Alcatraz was taken over by the Native
Americans. This
was known as the Native American
Civil Rights Movement.
• Double V
Campaign-1950s,This was a
slogan and drive to promote
the fight for democracy for
African Americans.
• Delano to Sacramento
March- 1966,Cesar
Chavez led a march from
Delano to Sacramento
seeking labor rights for
farmworkers. Many civil
right group’s joined the
march to fight racism
and economic injustice.
• Greensboro Sit-in- 1960, Four
college students refusal to leave
Woolworth’s lunch counter until
they were served led to the
desegregation of Woolworth.
• Women’s Strike for Equality- 1970, The
National Organization for women protested
employment discrimination, political equality,
free childcare, abortion, and the 50th
anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
• March on Washington- 1963,
This was a march to support
civil rights legislation, school
integration, and
discrimination at work. MLK’s
“I Have a Dream Speech”
brought attention to these
problems.
• Trail of Broken Treaties-1972,
Native Americans were promised
land by the U.S. but they were
forced to leave their homes. Many
protested but eventually they were
killed or forced to move.
Birmingham Campaign-1963,
organized by the Southern
Christian Leadership
Conference to end segregation
in Birmingham. This led to a
series of boycotts, sit-ins, and
nonviolent approaches.
Freedom Summer-1964, SNCC and CORE, influenced the
drive to register African American voters, establish schools,
and face violent resistance.
Montgomery Bus Boycott- 1955,
Rosa Parks refused to give up
her seat to a white passenger
which led to her arrest and a
one year boycott of city buses
which was led by MLK Jr.
Acts
• Voting Rights Act-1965,President Lyndon
Johnson signed this act into law. It outlawed
discriminatory voting practices, enforcing a
right guaranteed under the 15th Amendment.
Organizations
• Black Panther Party established-1966,The party was
founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. It was created
to protect black neighborhoods and it provided medical
treatment, education, and housing.
• Mexican American Youth Organization-1967, civil rights
organization formed to fight for Mexican American rights.
• National Organization for Women- 1968, they
issued a Bill of Rights to enforce the prohibitions
against sex discrimination in employment
SNCC-1960, civil rights organization led by
students, they participated in sit-ins,
freedom rides, and marches
SCLC-1957, nonviolent organization created
to coordinate civil rights groups in the
South, they organized boycotts and protests