Abolition of Slavery
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This was a pivotal moment in the civil rights in the US, marking the end of legal slavery.
1865
1868
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and providing all citizens with “equal protection under the laws.” This was a significant advancement for civil rights in the US.
1870
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This was a crucial step toward voting rights in the civil rights in the US.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, effectively ending racial segregation in schools. This landmark decision was a major victory for civil rights in the US.
1955
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal event in the civil rights movement, leading to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
1963
March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a massive protest in Washington, D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, advocating for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the US.
1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, ending unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace, and by facilities that served the general public.
1965
Voting Rights Act of 1965
This crucial piece of federal legislation prohibited racial discrimination in voting, removing barriers such as literacy tests and poll taxes that had historically been used to disenfranchise African American voters.
1967
Loving v. Virginia
The Supreme Court ruled that state laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional, a significant victory for civil rights in the US, affirming the right to marry regardless of race.
1968
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act was enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and sex.
1972
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal funding, significantly advancing gender equality in education.
1990
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public.
2003
Lawrence v. Texas
The Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in Texas and, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every US state and territory, a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in the US.
2015
Obergefell v. Hodges
The Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
2020
Black Lives Matter Protests
Following the death of George Floyd, widespread protests erupted across the US and globally, calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism, significantly impacting the conversation around civil rights in the US.
2021
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, establishing June 19th as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the US, marking a significant recognition of African American history and civil rights in the US.
