The Jim Crow South Events Leading Up to the Civil Rights Movement

1865 – Reconstruction Begins Reconstruction occurred after the Civil War.Reconstruction occurred after the Civil War. 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery13th Amendment: Abolished slavery 14th Amendment: Equal protection under the law to all U.S. citizens14th Amendment: Equal protection under the law to all U.S. citizens 15th Amemdnemt: Cannot deny rights based on race15th Amemdnemt: Cannot deny rights based on race Freedman's Bureau: Provided food, clothing, hospitals, help with employment, and schools for blacks in the SouthFreedman's Bureau: Provided food, clothing, hospitals, help with employment, and schools for blacks in the South

1866 – Ku Klux Klan The KKK was a group formed by white southerners who were angry that African Americans could now participate in politics and hold government offices.The KKK was a group formed by white southerners who were angry that African Americans could now participate in politics and hold government offices. Members wore white robes and high pointed hats.Members wore white robes and high pointed hats. The KKK became a terrorist organization, persecuting blacks and other minorities.The KKK became a terrorist organization, persecuting blacks and other minorities.

1875 – Civil Rights Act Last-ditch effort by the Republicans to continue Reconstruction.Last-ditch effort by the Republicans to continue Reconstruction. It granted freedom of access to all public facilities regardless of race.It granted freedom of access to all public facilities regardless of race.

1883 – Civil Rights Act Declared Unconstitutional The Supreme Court ruled that this Act was unconstitutional and was not authorized by the 13th or 14th Amendments. It left it to states to decide how to interpret these Amendments.The Supreme Court ruled that this Act was unconstitutional and was not authorized by the 13th or 14th Amendments. It left it to states to decide how to interpret these Amendments.

1892 – Ida B. Wells crusades against Lynchings Ida B. Wells was a former school teacher in Memphis. Three of her friends were murdered by a Memphis mob after they defended themselves against a mob trying to attack and destroy their store. The police refused to arrest the killers, and Wells tried to start a boycott against white-owned stores and public transportation.Ida B. Wells was a former school teacher in Memphis. Three of her friends were murdered by a Memphis mob after they defended themselves against a mob trying to attack and destroy their store. The police refused to arrest the killers, and Wells tried to start a boycott against white-owned stores and public transportation. She began a newspaper attacking lynchings and racism. Her newspaper store was burned, and she was forced to flee to the North, where she started a national anti-lynching campaign.She began a newspaper attacking lynchings and racism. Her newspaper store was burned, and she was forced to flee to the North, where she started a national anti-lynching campaign.

1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson Homer Plessy was jailed for using the "White" car of a railroad. He argued before the Supreme Court that this segregation violated the 13th and 14th Amendments.Homer Plessy was jailed for using the "White" car of a railroad. He argued before the Supreme Court that this segregation violated the 13th and 14th Amendments. The Supreme Court ruled that separate faciltiies did not violate these Amendments, and that separate was equal.The Supreme Court ruled that separate faciltiies did not violate these Amendments, and that separate was equal.

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed in 1910 after riots against blacks in Springfield, Illionois killed eight African Americans.The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed in 1910 after riots against blacks in Springfield, Illionois killed eight African Americans. The NAACP was formed to be an organization that could come to the aid of African Americans who were the victims of violence or discrimination.The NAACP was formed to be an organization that could come to the aid of African Americans who were the victims of violence or discrimination.