Second Great Migration (1940–1970)

1. World War II buildup expands defense jobs

   Jan 1, 1940Labels: Defense Industry, U S

   • Census Viz
   • Smithsonian Glossary

2. Second Great Migration gains momentum during WWII

   Jan 1, 1941Labels: Second Great, Destination Cities

   • Census Viz
   • Natl Archives

3. Executive Order 8802 bans defense-job discrimination

   Jun 25, 1941Labels: Executive Order, Fair Employment

   • Natl Archives
   • Britannica

4. Detroit’s 1943 riot highlights wartime housing strain

   Jun 20, 1943Labels: Detroit Riot, Auto Plants

   • 1943 Riot
   • Census Viz

5. GI Bill expands benefits but often excludes Black veterans

   Jun 22, 1944Labels: GI Bill, Veterans

   • Investopedia
   • Great Migration

6. Truman orders desegregation of the armed forces

   Jul 26, 1948Labels: Executive Order, Armed Forces

   • Natl Archives
   • Britannica

7. Brown v. Board challenges legal segregation nationwide

   May 17, 1954Labels: Brown v, Supreme Court

   • Britannica

8. Montgomery Bus Boycott proves power of mass protest

   Dec 5, 1955Labels: Montgomery Bus, Civil Rights

   • Britannica
   • King Institute

9. Interstate Highway Act accelerates urban and suburban change

   Jun 29, 1956Labels: Interstate Highway, Highway System

   • Highway Act

10. Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans discrimination in key areas

    Jul 2, 1964Labels: Civil Rights, Federal Law

    • CRA 1964

11. Voting Rights Act strengthens Black political power

    Aug 6, 1965Labels: Voting Rights, Federal Law

    • Natl Archives
    • Britannica

12. Watts uprising exposes inequality in western destination cities

    Aug 11, 1965Labels: Watts Uprising, Los Angeles

    • King Institute
    • Watts Riot

13. Detroit’s 1967 uprising becomes a national turning point

    Jul 23, 1967Labels: Detroit Uprising, Urban Unrest

    • Britannica
    • Detroit 1967

14. Kerner Report warns of “separate and unequal” societies

    Feb 29, 1968Labels: Kerner Report, Kerner Commission

    • Kerner

15. Fair Housing Act targets discrimination in home sales and rentals

    Apr 11, 1968Labels: Fair Housing, Civil Rights

    • Smithsonian
    • AP News

16. 1970 Census marks endpoint of the 1940–1970 phase

    Apr 1, 1970Labels: 1970 Census, Demographics

    • Census Viz
    • Smithsonian Glossary