Civil Rights Movement: Landmark Cases, Key Events, and Black Power

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

It upheld racial segregation under the doctrine of 'separate but equal'.

Who was Homer Plessy?

A Black man who challenged segregation laws by sitting in a whites-only railroad car.

What did the Supreme Court rule in Plessy v. Ferguson?

That segregation was constitutional as long as facilities were equal, which they rarely were.

What laws were legalized as a result of Plessy v. Ferguson?

Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation across the South.

How long did the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson stand?

Nearly 60 years, until it was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education?

It ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.

Who was Thurgood Marshall?

The Chief Counsel for the NAACP who argued in favor of desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education.

What did Chief Justice Earl Warren state in the Brown v. Board of Education ruling?

'Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'

What was the Southern Manifesto?

A document signed by 99 Southern Congress members protesting the Brown v. Board decision.

What event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

The arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger.

Who led the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Martin Luther King, Jr.

What was the duration of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Over a year.

What was the significance of the Little Rock Nine?

They were a group of Black students who were escorted by federal troops to integrate Central High School in Arkansas.

What happened to Emmett Till in 1955?

He was murdered in Mississippi after being accused of offending a white woman.

What was the outcome of the trial for Emmett Till's murderers?

Bryant and Milam were found not guilty, despite overwhelming evidence.

What was the impact of Emmett Till's open casket funeral?

It brought national attention to the brutality of racism and the need for civil rights.

What was the NAACP's role in civil rights cases?

It supported court cases challenging segregation and discrimination.

What was CORE and who founded it?

The Congress of Racial Equality, founded by James Farmer and George Houser, known for using sit-ins as protests.

What was the significance of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments?

They abolished slavery, granted citizenship to African Americans, and gave them the right to vote, respectively.

What was the purpose of the Civil Rights Movement?

To end racial discrimination and secure equal rights for African Americans.

How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?

381 days

What significant Supreme Court ruling resulted from the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Bus segregation was declared unconstitutional in 1956.

What event is referred to as 'Bloody Sunday'?

The brutal attack on 600 marchers by state troopers on March 7, 1965.

What was the goal of the Freedom Riders?

To draw attention to the segregation of interstate bus travel in the South.

What was the Birmingham Campaign?

A series of nonviolent protests in 1963 that escalated into a national crisis.

What tragic event occurred at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham?

A bombing that killed four girls attending Sunday school on September 15, 1963.

What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Legislation that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

What was the significance of the March on Washington?

It was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighted by MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech.

What was the Freedom Summer?

An initiative to register African American voters in Mississippi, leading to violence and the creation of the MFDP.

What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Legislation that banned literacy tests and provided federal oversight in states with a history of discrimination.

What does 'Black Power' signify?

A movement emphasizing racial distinction and self-defense, moving away from nonviolent strategies.

Who were the Black Panthers?

A civil rights organization that fought against police brutality, led by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.

What was the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination?

It marked the end of an era and led to fragmentation within the Civil Rights Movement.

What was the response of the federal government to the violence in Birmingham?

The federal government intervened to push for civil rights legislation.

What role did President Eisenhower play in the Little Rock crisis?

He sent 1,000 paratroopers to protect the 'Little Rock 9' and enforce desegregation.

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1957?

It gave the Attorney General greater power over school desegregation and focused on voting discrimination.

What was the main focus of the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity (CEEO)?

To promote equal employment opportunities and address discrimination.

What was the outcome of Robert Chambliss's trial for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing?

He was initially found not guilty but later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

What was the purpose of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)?

To represent African American voters and challenge the regular Democratic Party's exclusion of Black voters.