Affirmative action: a documentary history

1854-1900: Affirmations of, limitations on, the citizanship status of African Americans, women, and the disabled, in legislation action, judicial rulings, and the public policy decisions

1901-1963: Affirmative action

Progrssivism and World War I

The 1920's

The 1930's

World War II

Postwar era

The administration of Dwight Eisenhower

The Kennedy era

1964-1972:Evolution of a complex and ambiguous body of congressional law, rules of executive enforcement and court decisions

The administration of Lyndon Johnson

The administration of Richard Nixon

1973-1980: A time of testing: Affirmative action applied, challenged upheld and challenged again

Final Nixon years

Interim years of Gerald Ford

Administration of Jimmy Carter

1981-2000:Affirmative action entrenched and embattled

The Reagan Bush years

The administration of William Jefferson Clinton.