Civil Rights Movement Key Terms

These flashcards cover key terms and events from the Civil Rights Movement, providing definitions and historical context.

Civil Rights March on Washington, DC 1963

A large rally held in Washington, D.C., with the purpose of advocating for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

Sweatt v. Painter (1950)

A Supreme Court case that ruled against the separate but equal doctrine in higher education, stating that the University of Texas Law School's discrimination against Black students was unconstitutional.

Nation of Islam

An African American political and religious movement founded in the 1930s advocating for Black empowerment and self-discipline.

Birmingham Campaign

A major event in the Civil Rights Movement during 1963 that aimed to end segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, through nonviolent protests.

24th Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Malcolm X

An African American leader who advocated for the rights of Black people, known for his more militant stance compared to Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

George Wallace

The Governor of Alabama known for his pro-segregation stance and infamous declaration of 'segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever'.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954)

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Executive Order 9981

An executive order issued by President Harry S. Truman in 1948 to desegregate the armed forces.

Stokely Carmichael

A civil rights activist who coined the term 'Black Power' and emphasized a more militant approach to achieving racial equality.

Black Panthers

A revolutionary socialist organization active in the 1960s and 1970s, advocating for self-defense and civil rights for African Americans.

Freedom Summer

A 1964 campaign aimed at increasing voter registration among African Americans in Mississippi.

Affirmative Action

Policies that seek to improve opportunities for historically excluded groups in education and employment.

Selma marches

A series of protest marches in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery, aimed at combating racial discrimination in voting.