Alabama in U.S. History
Timeline of Events:
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1819: Territory of Alabama created
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1819-1861: Alabama admitted as a slave state in 1819; secedes from the Union in 1861
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1865: Alabama readmitted to the Union
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1954: Brown v. Board of Education desegregates public schools
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1955-1956: Montgomery Bus Boycott * 1963: Civil Rights Act of 1963 prohibits racial discrimination
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1964: Alabama legislature refuses to seat duly elected Black members
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1965: Selma to Montgomery marches force Voting Rights Act of 1965 Important Legislation:
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Articles of Secession (1861)
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Black Codes (1865-1877)
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Jim Crow Laws (post-Reconstruction era)
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Civil Rights Act of 1963
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Voting Rights Act of 1965 Important Court Cases:
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Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
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Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
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Loving v. Virginia (1967)
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Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
Major Industry:
- Agriculture: Alabama is a major producer of cotton, peanuts, and soybeans
- Manufacturing: Automobile manufacturing, aerospace, textiles
Impact on the Rest of the Country:
- Civil Rights Movement: Alabama played a central role in the fight for civil rights, serving as the site of major protests and legislative victories
- Economic Growth: Alabama’s major industries have contributed to its economic development and that of the surrounding region
- Racial Tensions: The state’s history of racial inequality and violence has had a lasting impact on race relations in the nation
- Political Polarization: Alabama has often been a stronghold for conservative values, contributing to the nation’s political divide
- Environmental Protection: Alabama’s natural resources have been subject to significant environmental challenges, including pollution and deforestation, raising awareness about the need for conservation