Key Themes and Events in African American History (1877–1968)

These flashcards cover key themes, events, and figures in African American history from 1877 to 1968, focusing on the periods of resistance, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights Movement.

What were Jim Crow laws?

Legalized racial segregation and voter suppression.

What does the Great Migration refer to?

The movement of African Americans fleeing Southern oppression starting in the early 20th century.

What was the outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

The Supreme Court upheld the doctrine of 'separate but equal,' legitimizing segregation.

Who was Ida B. Wells?

An anti-lynching journalist and activist who exposed racial violence.

What did W.E.B. Du Bois advocate for?

Higher education and civil rights; he was a co-founder of the NAACP.

What role did education and the press play in the Black resistance?

They were critical tools in the struggle for justice.

When did Frederick Douglass escape from slavery?

In 1838.

What significant event did Douglass not support in 1859?

John Brown's insurrection attempt at Harper’s Ferry.

How did military service affect Black soldiers after the Civil War?

It gave them a claim on freedom and citizenship recognized by Lincoln.

What amendments were passed during the Reconstruction era?

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments.

What was the significance of the term 'Red Summer'?

A period of widespread racial violence against Black communities in 1919.

Who was a leading poet of the Harlem Renaissance?

Langston Hughes.

What was the Double V Campaign?

A campaign for victory against fascism abroad and racism at home during WWII.

What is the Atlanta Compromise?

An agreement proposed by Booker T. Washington advocating for Black Americans to focus on work and education rather than politics.

Who became the World Colored Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1903?

Jack Johnson.

What did Ida Wells-Barnett advocate for in 1913?

Women’s suffrage, founding the Alpha Suffrage Club for Black women.

In what year did The Great Migration begin?

1916.

What was the impact of the Great Migration on Northern cities?

It caused a significant increase in Black populations and heightened racial tensions.

What major civil rights legislation was passed in 1964?

The Civil Rights Act.

Who was a prominent nonviolent leader during the Civil Rights Movement?

Martin Luther King Jr.

What event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

The arrest of Rosa Parks in 1955.

What was Malcolm X's approach towards systemic racism?

Advocating for Black empowerment and self-determination.

How did military service during WWII contribute to the Civil Rights Movement?

It raised awareness of racial discrimination and fueled demands for equality.

What did the term 'Black Power' symbolize?

The push for Black self-determination and radical activism during the late '60s.

What was the aim of the civil rights protests in the 1960s?

To achieve legal and grassroots activism for civil rights.

What case did C. G. Jennings' family attempt to influence for desegregation?

The Jennings v. Hearne Independent School District case.

What did Black artists like James Baldwin do in response to the Civil Rights Movement?

They produced works that showcased the depth and complexity of Black lives.

What marked the beginning of youth-led protests in the Civil Rights Movement?

The sit-ins that started in Greensboro, North Carolina in February 1960.

What does the term 'civil rights movement' encompass?

A cross-generational struggle for racial equality involving various grassroots efforts.