Civil Rights Movement Key Events and Concepts

20 question-and-answer flashcards summarizing major events, figures, legal cases, and educational initiatives discussed in the lecture notes.

Who kidnapped and murdered Emmett Till?

JW Milam and Roy Bryant

What public decision by Mamie Till-Mobley galvanized outrage over her son’s murder?

She insisted on an open-casket funeral to show the brutality inflicted on Emmett Till.

In what year and state was 14-year-old Emmett Till murdered?

1955, Mississippi

What verdict did the mostly white jury reach in the Emmett Till trial?

Not guilty

Which Supreme Court case ended bus segregation and the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Browder v. Gayle (1956)

On what date was Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat?

December 1, 1955

Approximately how long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?

About 11 months (Dec 1955–Dec 1956)

At what age did Martin Luther King Jr. become president of the Montgomery Improvement Association?

26

Whose philosophy inspired MLK’s commitment to non-violent resistance?

Mahatma Gandhi

Which 1954 Supreme Court case outlawed public-school segregation?

Brown v. Board of Education

What 1896 case had established the “separate but equal” doctrine?

Plessy v. Ferguson

What 1956 document, signed by 101 southern lawmakers, urged resistance to school integration?

The Southern Manifesto

Which organization brought Brown v. Board to the Supreme Court and fought segregation through legal action?

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

What does SCLC stand for, and who was its leading figure?

Southern Christian Leadership Conference; led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

List two common services offered by the 1960s university support programs for Black and Latino students.

Examples: tutoring, mentoring, academic advising, cultural centers, summer prep, ongoing academic support

What primary goal did these university support programs aim to achieve for students of color?

Retention, graduation, and overall success in college

Who pushed universities to create special support programs for Black and Latino students?

Students, activists, and local communities

What later developments threatened affirmative action and race-based admissions?

Court decisions and state laws banning the use of race in admissions decisions

What organization coordinated the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)

How did the Emmett Till case influence the broader civil rights movement?

It highlighted racial injustice, sparked national outrage, and strengthened calls for legislative change.