Research Important events in the U.S. Civil Rights movement to create your timeline. Your timeline will lead up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Signed by Lyndon Johnson.
• Your timeline must have at least 8 different events that impacted the Civil Rights movement.
• Your timeline must have specific dates or time frames on which these events occurred.
• Each point in your timeline must have a brief description of the event AND how that event impacted the civil rights movement.
• You must have at least 4 different sources in your timeline description. Please make sure to cite your sources using APA citations.
o Use parenthetical citations when using a direct quotation or paraphrasing.
o Provide a reference list of the sources that you used on your timeline.
Timeline of Events Leading up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964:
1. May 17, 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education: The Supreme Court rules in a unanimous decision that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. This landmark case marked a significant victory for the Civil Rights movement as it struck down legal segregation and set the stage for further desegregation efforts (History.com, n.d.).
2. December 1, 1955 - Montgomery Bus Boycott: Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refuses to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking a 381-day boycott of the city's bus system led by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott ultimately leads to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional (History.com, n.d.).
3. September 9, 1957 - Little Rock Nine: Nine African American students attempt to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, leading to violent protests and the intervention of federal troops ordered by President Eisenhower. This event highlighted the resistance to desegregation in the South and the federal government's role in enforcing civil rights (History.com, n.d.).
4. February 1, 1960 - Greensboro Sit-Ins: Four African American college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, stage a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, sparking a wave of similar protests across the South. The sit-ins demonstrated the power of nonviolent direct action in the fight against segregation (History.com, n.d.).
5. May 4, 1961 - Freedom Riders: Civil rights activists, both Black and white, begin bus trips throughout the South to challenge segregation on interstate buses and terminals. The Freedom Rides faced violent opposition but helped bring national attention to the issue of segregation and the need for civil rights legislation (History.com, n.d.).
6. August 28, 1963 - March on Washington: Over 250,000 people participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. The march highlighted the demand for civil rights legislation and economic equality for African Americans (History.com, n.d.).
7. June 11, 1963 - Alabama Governor Blocks Desegregation: Governor George Wallace stands in the doorway of the University of Alabama to block the enrollment of two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood. President Kennedy federalizes the Alabama National Guard to ensure their admission, demonstrating the federal government's commitment to desegregation (History.com, n.d.).
8. July 2, 1964 - Civil Rights Act of 1964: President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The landmark legislation marked a significant victory for the Civil Rights movement by outlawing segregation in public facilities and banning employment discrimination, paving the way for further advancements in civil rights (History.com, n.d.).
References:
History.com. (n.d.). Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement.