Civil Rights Movement

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Originally a preacher and became a pivotal leader in the Civil Rights Movement, known for his nonviolent philosophy.

Nonviolent Philosophy

Approach promoted by Martin Luther King, Jr. advocating for civil rights through peaceful means.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A significant civil rights protest initiated by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, lasting over a year and leading to desegregation.

Malcolm X

A civil rights leader who promoted black nationalism and self-defense, speaking for black empowerment 'by any means necessary'.

Nation of Islam

An African American political and religious movement focused on Black nationalism and self-reliance.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation proposed by JFK and signed by LBJ that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Rosa Parks

Civil rights activist known for refusing to give her bus seat to a white man, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Thurgood Marshall

Civil rights lawyer who played a significant role in landmark cases including Brown v. Board of Education.

Interposition

A legal doctrine used by states to oppose federal actions that they believe are unconstitutional.

Civil Disobedience

A form of protest where individuals deliberately break the law to express opposition to specific policies.

Segregation (de jure vs. de facto)

'De jure' refers to legally mandated segregation while 'de facto' refers to segregation that occurs in practice.

Jim Crow

Laws that enforced racial segregation in the southern United States until they were ruled unconstitutional in 1964.

Grassroots

Collective actions taken by ordinary individuals to promote social or political change.

Boycott

A non-violent protest method where individuals refuse to engage with a service or product to bring about change.

Sit-in

A form of protest where individuals occupy a space to express opposition, notably used during lunch counter sit-ins.

John F. Kennedy

U.S. President who viewed civil rights as a moral issue and proposed the Civil Rights Act.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Vice President who succeeded JFK and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

An organization established to lead the civil rights movement through nonviolence, notably connected to MLK.

Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

A key grassroots organization formed by college students to lead non-violent protests and voter registration.

Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)

An organization formed to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, focusing on nonviolent protest against racial segregation.

24th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that eliminated poll taxes in federal elections.