On May 24, 1833, the Connecticut General Assembly passed what became known as the Connecticut “Black Law,” a law designed to stop educator Prudence Crandall from teaching Black female students at her school in Canterbury, Connecticut. Crandall had opened one of the first schools in the United States dedicated to the education of Black girls, but many local residents opposed the school. The new law made it illegal to educate African American students from outside Connecticut without local permission. Crandall refused.

On May 22, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his historic “Great Society” speech at the University of Michigan. In the address, Johnson presented a broad national vision focused on reducing poverty, confronting racial injustice, improving cities, protecting natural resources, and strengthening education. His comments were especially important for education because he identified America’s classrooms as one of the central places where the Great Society would be built.