1849—Roberts v. Boston
This was the first U.S. Supreme Court case to challenge segregation in public schools.

1857—Dred Scott v. Sanford
This U.S. Supreme Court ruling set the stage for blacks to be treated as second-class citizens.

1865—The Freedmen's Bureau
This bureau was established to assist former slaves in their adjustment to freedom.

1866 to 1876—Reconstruction
During this period, the U.S. declared any act of discrimination against blacks illegal.

1870s to 1960s—Jim Crow Laws
"Jim Crow laws" refers to the laws and actions that deprived blacks of their civil rights.

1890—Plessy v. Ferguson
This U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that as long as separate facilities for each race were equal, they were legal.

1924—Indian Citizenship Act
This law granted U.S. citizenship to American Indians.

1945—Mendez v. Westminster
This case ended segregation of Hispanic school children in Orange County, Calif.

1954—Brown v. Board of Education
This landmark U.S. Supreme Court case ended racial segregation of schools, calling "separate educational facilities inherently unequal."

1954—Hernandez v. Texas
This U.S. Supreme Court case extended constitutional protection to Mexican Americans as outlined in the 14th Amendment.

1956—Montgomery Bus Boycott
This event led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

1957—Little Rock High School
President Eisenhower sent in troops to protect nine black students who were seeking access to a white high school.

1963—A. Philip Randolph and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington included Martin Luther King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

1964—Civil Rights Act of 1964
Discrimination in voter registration, voting rights, and in public accommodations and/or businesses was outlawed.

1968—The Indian Civil Rights Act
Similar to our Bill of Rights, this act gave American Indians rights to religious freedom, equal protection under the law and due process.

1974—Lau v. Nichols
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that basic English skills are at the core of what public schools teach.