Civil Rights Era Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, court cases, and figures from the Civil Rights Era.

Jim Crow Laws

Laws that mandated segregation in public spaces such as restrooms, schools, restaurants, and buses.

Political Disenfranchisement

Measures like literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, intimidation, and gerrymandering used to prevent African Americans from voting.

Redlining

The practice of denying financial investments and housing to African Americans in specific areas, contributing to the wealth gap and segregated communities.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Supreme Court case that upheld segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine. Started because a black man sat in a white only car and got arrested.

Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education (1899)

Supreme Court case where funding was used for white schools but not African American schools.

Lynching

Public killing of an individual without due process. Reasons many got lynched: Sexual offense, robbery, vagrancy, murder, not following social customs

Resistance

Refuse to comply with or follow something; to prevent something by action or argument; not be affected/impacted by something

Martin Luther King Jr.

Began non-violent peaceful protests, gained traction through media. Founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference, utilized the church to lead non violent protests.

Malcolm X

Was not looking for integration of Whites and African Americans. He wanted freedom and protected rights. Disagreed with MLK's approach of non-violent protest. Believed that African Americans need to arm themselves against the violence of white people

Fred Hampton

Active leader in NAACP - NAACP fights for protection and basic rights and freedoms for people of color. Joined Black Panther Party, hosted free breakfast programmes, other community work (medical care, prison reform, created schools). Negotiated deal between Chicago gangs

Freedom Riders

Groups of white and African American activists that challenged segregation in interstate travel, tried to use whites only seats in restaurants, busses, restrooms

Freedom Summer

Summer project to educate African Americans in Mississippi so they can vote - math, reading, African American history, philosophy of civil rights movement, and leadership skills. Helped pave the way for Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act in 1965

Brown v. Board of Education

Ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional and violated equal protection clause of 14th amendment.

Loving v. Virginia

Ruled that banning of interracial marriage was unconstitutional and violated equal protection of 14th amendment.

Emmet Till

A 14-year-old African American who was lynched in 1955 for allegedly offending a white woman in Mississippi, his murder galvanized the Civil Rights Movement.