| 1776 | Declaration of Independence from Great Britain: White men who own property are equal.
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| 1789 | United States Constitution written and signed: Each black person counted as 3/5's of a person for Congressional seat count.
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| 1807 | Slave Trade Prohibition Act: Congress prohibited the importation of slaves to the U.S.
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| 1856 | Dred Scott vs. Sandford-U.S. Supreme Court Case: Blacks were not citizens and could be granted rights only by whites.
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| 1862 | Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: It denounced the injustice of slavery.
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| 1865 | Thirteenth Amendment:
It abolished slavery.
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| 1866 | Civil Rights Act of 1866:
It prohibited racial discrimination.
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| 1868 | Fourteenth Amendment:
It granted citizenship and due process to all.
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| 1883 | Robinson vs. Memphis & Charleston R.R.-U.S Supreme Court Case: It said that 14th Amendment was for state actions and did not prohibit private conduct, such as discrimination in lodging.
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| 1894 | Plessy vs. Ferguson-U.S. Supreme Court Case: The doctrine of "separate but equal" was declared legal.
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| 1917 | Buchanan vs. Warley-U.S. Supreme Court Case: It said "no" to segregated areas.
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| 1948 | Hurd vs. Hodge & Shelley vs. Kramer-U.S. Supreme Court Case: Restrictive real estate deed covenants are illegal.
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| 1954 | Brown vs. Board of Education-U.S. Supreme Court Case: Doctrine of "separate but equal" is declared illegal.
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| 1962 | President Kennedy's Executive Order 11063: Racial discrimination in VA and FHA loans is illegal.
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| 1964 | Civil Rights Act of 1964: Racial discrimination in federally-funded housing is illegal.
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| 1968 | Jones vs. Alfred H. Mayer Co.-U.S. Supreme Court Case: Racial discrimination in private housing is illegal.
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| 1968 | The Civil Rights Act of 1968: It enhanced and expanded fair housing protections for race, and added color, religion and national origin as "protected class" groups.
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| 1973 | Rehabilitation Act of 1973: It prohibited discrimination against the disabled in federal programs.
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| 1974 | Housing and Community Development Act: It added sex to the "protected class" groups list.
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| 1988 | Fair Housing Act of 1988:
It added familial status and handicap to the "protected class" groups list and strengthened enforcement and penalties. |