The Civil Rights Movement in America: From Slavery to Equality
This timeline traces the journey of African Americans from slavery to civil rights, highlighting key events and figures in the struggle for equality. The history of slavery in America spans from 1619 to 1865, followed by the era of segregation and the fight for civil rights led by figures like Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 1619: First enslaved Africans brought to America, marking the start of slavery in America
- 1863: Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln
- 1865: Abolition of slavery (1865) and creation of the Ku Klux Klan
- 1868-1964: Era of segregation, including Jim Crow laws
- 1963: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
- 1964: Civil Rights Act passed, making racial discrimination illegal
- 2008: Barack Obama elected as the first African American president