Landmark Civil Rights Milestones to Know for AP US History (copy)

Civil Rights Movement

A pivotal period in US history focused on achieving racial equality and justice through landmark events.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

Declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate territories, altering the Civil War's purpose.

13th Amendment

Ratified in 1865, it abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.

14th Amendment

Enacted in 1868, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all born or naturalized in the U.S.

15th Amendment

Ratified in 1870, it prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Civil Rights Cases (1883)

Supreme Court ruling that allowed private discrimination and weakened federal protections for African Americans.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court case that upheld 'separate but equal' doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation.

Shelley v. Kraemer (1948)

Supreme Court ruling that established courts could not enforce racial covenants, yet discrimination persisted.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

A mass protest against bus segregation sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest, leading to economic pressure on the bus system.

Little Rock Integration Crisis (1957)

Event where nine Black students integrated Central High School amid violent opposition and federal intervention.

Presidential Election of 1960

Election marked by a shift of African American support from Republicans to Democrats, greatly due to civil rights issues.

Interstate Travel Desegregation (1960)

Supreme Court ruling mandating integration on interstate buses, leading to the Freedom Riders' movement.

March on Washington (1963)

Massive rally advocating for civil rights, highlighted by Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public places.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for African Americans, including literacy tests and poll taxes.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Supreme Court decision that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage, reinforcing the rights to equality and dignity.