- African Americans were brought to America as slaves in the 17th century.
- They were forced to work on plantations and endured harsh conditions, beatings, and torture.
- Enslaved people were denied basic rights, such as education, the ability to own property, and the right to vote.
- They were considered property and had no legal protections.
The Civil War
- The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865, in part over the issue of slavery.
- The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery.
- African Americans gained freedom but still faced discrimination and segregation.
Jim Crow laws
- Jim Crow laws were laws that enforced racial segregation in the United States.
- These laws were passed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and enforced until the mid-20th century.
- Jim Crow laws prohibited African Americans from using public facilities like schools, public transportation, and restaurants.
- They also made it difficult for African Americans to vote, own property, and get an education.
Civil rights movement
- The civil rights movement was a social movement that aimed to end legal and social discrimination against African Americans.
- The movement used nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, and political activism to fight for their rights.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were important milestones in the civil rights movement.
- These laws banned discrimination based on race and color, and outlawed voting practices that disenfranchised African Americans.
Present day
- African Americans have made significant progress in the United States since the civil rights movement, but persistent disparities remain in health, wealth, education, and criminal justice.
- Systemic racism continues to perpetuate unequal opportunities and outcomes for African Americans and other marginalized communities.