Timeline of African-American History
This page presents a comprehensive timeline of African-American history, spanning from the arrival of the first slaves in 1619 to recent events in 2020. The timeline highlights key moments in the struggle for equality and civil rights.
The timeline begins in 1619 with the arrival of the first slaves in Jamestown, Virginia, marking the start of the Atlantic slave trade in North America. It then progresses through significant events such as the outlawing of the slave trade in 1807 and the formation of the Underground Railroad, a network that helped slaves escape to freedom.
Definition: The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause.
The Civil War (1861-1865) is highlighted as a crucial period, culminating in the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. The timeline then moves through the Reconstruction Era, noting important constitutional amendments such as the 14th (guaranteeing citizenship) and 15th (guaranteeing the right to vote) Amendments.
Highlight: The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, known collectively as the Reconstruction Amendments, significantly altered the Constitution to promote equality and civil rights for African Americans.
The timeline covers the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, including landmark events such as the March on Washington in 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. It also notes the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which made discrimination illegal.
Quote: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" - Martin Luther King Jr.
The timeline concludes with more recent milestones, such as the election of Barack Obama as the first African American president in 2008, and the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked widespread protests and renewed focus on racial justice issues.
Vocabulary: Affirmative Action - policies and practices aimed at increasing the representation of minorities and women in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded.
