Civil Rights Vocabulary

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court case that hurt civil rights by establishing a "separate but equal" doctrine, thus allowing segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case that ruled schools must integrate and that "separate is by definition Unequal." It reverses the Plessy decision and shows that society reinterprets key principles (like segregation) over time.

Rosa Parks

She refused to give up her seat for white passengers on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. She was arrested and is credited with starting the civil rights movement. A bus boycott followed her arrest and ended with bus segregation being outlawed.

Little Rock Nine

This group of black students were chosen to integrate Arkansas' Central High School. Governor Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to turn the black students away, but President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the students to class.

Civil Rights Act of 1957

Law that put the US Attorney General in charge of school desegregation and gave the federal government power over violations of black voting rights. The federal government is increasing its power because the states are not supporting civil rights.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

This organization was formed by college students (both black and white) who wanted a more confrontational strategy to civil rights than MLK. They successfully used sit-ins (sitting down and refusing to leave) to try to desegregate lunch counters across the nation.

Freedom Riders

There was a law passed banning segregation on interstate bus routes and terminals. The South, however, was ignoring the law. This group (black and white) rode in buses throughout the South hoping to provoke a violent reaction, which they did. This violence forced President Kennedy to send federal marshals to the South to protect the group.

Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers (UFW)

Thousands of Hispanics worked in California's fruit/vegetable farms did backbreaking work for little pay (less than whites). The leader/group went on strikes and boycotts to gain more rights for immigrant workers. They also sent workers to supermarkets across the nation to appeal to the owners/buyers for reform. They had a non-violent approach.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Law that prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or gender. It gave all citizens the right to enter libraries, parks, and other public accommodations.

Freedom Summer

Time period in 1964 when CORE and SNCC workers went to the South to register as many blacks as they could to vote. → 3 of the workers were killed in Philadelphia, MS

24th amendment

It abolished the poll tax in federal elections because it used economic grounds/poverty to keep blacks from voting.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Law that eliminated the literacy test and send federal officials to the South to safely register blacks to vote. This law got rid of unfair voting requirements and helped to get minorities voting at the same rates as whites.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of a handicap (for things like employment - but not absolute). It also requires public buildings to have wheelchair access. Laws like this encourage equal treatment of all Americans.

Affirmative Action

Law requiring universities and employers to hire a certain number/quota of minorities in order to receive federal money and work contracts. It is designed to make sure minorities have opportunities to succeed.

de facto segregation

this is racial separation that exists by tradition or custom (not law). An example would be an all Hispanic neighborhood. This separation is harder to change.

Great Society

Lyndon Johnson's domestic programs that declared a "war on poverty" and provided government healthcare for the poor and elderly.

New Frontier

John F. Kennedy's domestic programs that included the Apollo Program and Peace Corps.

Medicare and Medicaid

Lyndon Johnson's programs that give government healthcare to the elderly and poor.

Rosenbergs

American couple that gave atomic secrets to the Soviets. They were executed for espionage.

McCarthyism

time period in the 1950s when a Wisconsin senator made claims that communists were in the US government and caused a hysteria in the country. The senator held televised hearings where he questioned suspected communists. There was no evidence found of communism and the senator was discredited.