Montgomery, Alabama December 1, 1955

On this day, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man.

Because of this, she was arrested and thrown into prison.

To you, this might not seem like a lot. However, this event made other black people want to rise up fight for their rights.

Little Rock, Arkansas

September 4, 1957

In a town called Little Rock, Arkansas, nine black students wanted to go to Central High School. However, since the school was for whites only, they weren't allowed to.

Luckily for them, they had the President of the United States in their corner.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops into the town in order to escort the children to school.

The Civil Rights Act

September 4, 1957

In 1957, Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 (I mean, when else would he have signed it).

This law was put into action in order to protect the voting rights of blacks and many other minority groups.

Greensboro, North Carolina

February 1, 1960

Four college students in Greensboro, NC went to a diner one day. However, the only problem, it was for whites only. But the refused to leave without being served.

The University of Alabama

June 11, 1963

In 1963, two black student tried to register to vote. However, the Governor of Alabama, Governor George C. Wallace, had different plans.

He stood in a doorway at the of Alabama to prevent the students from registering. This went on until President John F. Kennedy sent the National Guard to the school in order to allow them in.

Washington DC

August 28, 1963

On August 28, 1963, about 250,000 people took part in The March on Washington. Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, gave his powerful, “I have a dream," speech in front of the Lincoln memorial.

His words helped change history and gain blacks and all oppressed people their freedom.