Although the fight for the civil rights of African Americans began a long time ago, one of the most important and well known timeframes is known as the Civil Rights Movement, and took place largely during the 1950s and 1960s. In order to truly understand the struggle that Black people have endured throughout history, it is important for students to know about the events that have taken place over time.
For this activity, students will research the specific time period of the Civil Rights Movement, and create a timeline poster depicting important events. Teachers may choose to allow as many events on the timeline as students want to include, or set a limit, as there are several.
Before learning about the events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement, students should know about the Jim Crow Laws. Established in the 1860s, the Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws that legalized racial segregation. Although slavery was abolished, these laws restricted African Americans from many of the freedoms that white people were granted.
July 26, 1948
President Truman ends segregation in the US Military.
1954: Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court case found that segregation of public schools is a violation of the 14th Amendment.
December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks
In Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on the public bus to a white man. She was arrested. This began the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a movement where people stopped riding the buses in protest of unfair treatment. The boycott lasted 381 days, and ended when the bus companies agreed to get rid of sectioned seating.
September, 1957: Little Rock Nine
Even though segregation of schools was ruled unconstitutional in 1954, many states were still segregated. In 1957, nine students were to attend Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas. When the students arrived, they were blocked by the Arkansas National Guard and were unable to enter. Later that month, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the children into the school.
1960: Greensboro Sit-Ins
Sit-ins were nonviolent protests against segregated restaurants. They began in Greensboro, North Carolina when four Black men sat down at a white’s only lunch counter in the Woolworth’s store and were refused service. They refused to get up until the store closed, denying white people the ability to sit down and give their business. The sit-ins began happening in more and more places, and eventually restaurants had to change their rules so that they could stay in business.
November, 1960
Ruby Bridges becomes the first Black student at an elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana at only six years old. She had to be escorted to and from school by Federal Marshals and was met by many angry protesters. Many white parents pulled their children from the school. Since classrooms were not yet segregated, Ruby was the only person in her 1st grade class.
1961: Freedom Riders
The Freedom Riders were Black and white people who rode interstate buses to the South to protest segregated bus terminals and bus lines.
August 28, 1963: March on Washington
THe March on Washington was led by Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, and 4 others, known as “The Big Six”. The march was planned on this date purposefully, as it was the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and its purpose was to peacefully protest against segregation, Jim Crow Laws in the South, and the general unfair treatment of Black people. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people marched the streets of Washington D.C., and ended at the National Mall. Many delivered speeches, the most well known being MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
September 15, 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
The bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, killed 4 little girls and injured 22 other people. It was said to be done by three Klansmen, who were not found guilty of the crime until many years later.
1964:The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Before his assassination in late 1963, President Kennedy had called for a new law that gave everyone the same basic human rights, regardless of race. On July 2, 1964, President Johnson, who took over for President Kennedy following his death, signed the bill into law, outlawing discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.
1965: Voting Rights Act
Signed on August 6, 1965 by President Johnson, the Voting Rights Act outlawed the voting practices that were discriminatory in the southern states. For example, there was no longer a prerequisite of a literacy test in order to vote.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a timeline poster, or use the timeline layout for a storyboard, depicting important events in the history of civil rights.
Student Instructions:
Requirements:
Increase student engagement by displaying their timeline posters around the classroom and allowing students to walk around, view each other's work, and discuss what they learned. This interactive approach encourages collaboration and deeper understanding.
Explain how students should respectfully observe, ask questions, and give positive feedback. Model appropriate behavior to ensure a supportive environment and make the activity meaningful for all participants.
Have some students act as ‘guides’ for their timelines, explaining their choices and answering questions. This builds confidence and speaking skills while helping students take ownership of their learning.
Lead a class discussion or have students write about what new events or perspectives they discovered. Encourage connections between different timelines to reinforce the diversity of experiences during the Civil Rights Movement.
The Civil Rights Movement timeline includes major events like the Brown v. Board of Education decision (1954), Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955), the Little Rock Nine (1957), Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960), the Freedom Riders (1961), the March on Washington (1963), the Civil Rights Act (1964), and the Voting Rights Act (1965).
Students can create a Civil Rights Movement timeline poster by researching important events, writing the event names and dates, and illustrating key moments on a poster or digital storyboard. Teachers can guide students to use headings, images, and brief descriptions for each event.
Learning about the Civil Rights Movement helps students understand the struggle for equality, the impact of segregation laws, and the significance of social justice. It encourages empathy, awareness of history, and the importance of standing up for human rights.
Jim Crow Laws established racial segregation after the abolition of slavery. They set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement by restricting freedoms for African Americans and highlighting the need for change.
Teachers can assign timeline activities like creating illustrated posters, using digital timeline tools, or building storyboards. These activities help students organize events visually and better understand the sequence and importance of key moments in Black History.