Civil rights movement (1896–1954)

Quick Facts: Who was Civil rights movement (1896–1954)?

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Civil rights movement (1896–1954)

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A pivotal era of nonviolent struggle for full legal equality in American society.

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Origins & Early Life

The civil rights movement (1896–1954) was a long, primarily nonviolent series of actions to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to all Americans. The era has had a lasting impact on American society – in its tactics, the increased social and legal acceptance of civil rights, and in its exposure of the prevalence and cost of racism. Two US Supreme Court decisions in particular serve as bookends of the movement: the 1896 ruling of Plessy v Ferguson, which upheld "separate but equal" racial segregation as constitutional doctrine; and 1954's Brown v Board of Education, which overturned Plessy. This was an era of new beginnings, in which some movements, such as Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, were very successful but left little lasting legacy; while others, such as the NAACP's legal assault on state-sponsored segregation, achieved modest results in its early years, as in, Buchanan v. Warley (1917) (zoning), making some progress but also suffering setbacks, as in Corrigan v. Buckley (1926) (housing), gradually building to key victories, including in Smith v. Allwright (1944) (voting), Shelley v. Kraemer (1948) (housing), Sweatt v. Painter (1950) (schooling) and Brown. In addition, the Scottsboro Boys cases led to a pair of 1935 rulings in Powell v. Alabama, and Norris v. Alabama, that served to make anti-racism jurisprudence more prominent in the context of criminal justice.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Following the civil war, the United States expanded the legal rights of African Americans. Congress passed, and enough states ratified, an amendment ending slavery in 1865 — the 13th amendment to the US constitution. This amendment only outlawed slavery; it provided neither citizenship nor equal rights. In 1868, the 14th amendment was ratified by the states, granting African Americans citizenship, whereby all persons born in the US were extended equal protection under the laws of the constitution. The 15th amendment (ratified in 1870) stated that race could not be used as a condition to deprive men of the ability to vote.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During Reconstruction (1865–1877), northern troops occupied the South. Together with the Freedmen's Bureau, they tried to administer and enforce the new constitutional amendments. Many Black leaders were elected to local and state offices, and many others organized community groups, especially to support education. Reconstruction ended following the Compromise of 1877 between northern and southern White elites. In exchange for deciding the contentious presidential election in favor of Rutherford B. Hayes, supported by northern states, over his opponent, Samuel J. Tilden, the compromise called for the withdrawal of northern troops from the South.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1865: 1865 Milestone — Congress passed, and enough states ratified, an amendment ending slavery in 1865 — the 13th amendment to the US constitution.
2. 1868: 1868 Milestone — In 1868, the 14th amendment was ratified by the states, granting African Americans citizenship, whereby all persons born in the US were extended equal protection under the laws of the constitution.
3. 1870: 1870 Milestone — The 15th amendment (ratified in 1870) stated that race could not be used as a condition to deprive men of the ability to vote.
4. 1877: 1877 Milestone — Reconstruction ended following the Compromise of 1877 between northern and southern White elites.
5. 1896: 1896 Milestone — The civil rights movement (1896–1954) was a long, primarily nonviolent series of actions to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to all Americans.
6. 1917: 1917 Milestone — Warley (1917) (zoning), making some progress but also suffering setbacks, as in Corrigan v.
7. 1926: 1926 Milestone — Buckley (1926) (housing), gradually building to key victories, including in Smith v.
8. 1935: 1935 Milestone — In addition, the Scottsboro Boys cases led to a pair of 1935 rulings in Powell v.
9. 1944: 1944 Milestone — Allwright (1944) (voting), Shelley v.
10. 1948: 1948 Milestone — Kraemer (1948) (housing), Sweatt v.
11. 1950: 1950 Milestone — Painter (1950) (schooling) and Brown.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Civil rights movement (1896–1954)

True or False: “The Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson established that 'separate but equal' was constitutionally permissible.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While this ruling provided the legal foundation for Jim Crow laws, it was later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Historical peer (Born in 1896) (1896): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• Alfonso Caso — Historical peer (Born in 1896) (1896): Pioneering Mexican archaeologist renowned for pre-Columbian studies.
• Aarathi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Egyptian military leader who became the sixth President of Egypt in 2014.
• Abdullah al-Sallal — Historical peer (Born in 1917) (1917): Yemeni military officer and revolutionary who led the North Yemeni Revolution of 1962.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Historical peer (Died in 1917) (1917): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
• Aaron Klug — Historical peer (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Abdus Salam — Historical peer (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Abdülmecid II — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Agustín Barrios — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Paraguayan virtuoso classical guitarist and composer, celebrated for his prolific works.

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