The Civil Rights Movement: 1945-1961 Overview

Civil Rights Movement

Struggle for African-American equality (1945-1961).

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Thurgood Marshall

First African-American Supreme Court Justice.

Executive Order 9981

Desegregated the U.S. military (1948).

Brown v. Board of Education

Landmark case ending school segregation (1954).

Brown II

Supreme Court ruling on school desegregation implementation (1955).

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Protest against bus segregation (1955-1956).

Browder v. Gayle

Court case supporting bus boycott's legality.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Leader advocating nonviolent civil rights strategies.

Southern Manifesto

Document opposing desegregation in public schools (1956).

Massive Resistance

Southern strategy to resist desegregation efforts.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Civil rights organization founded by MLK (1957).

Little Rock Central High School

Site of school desegregation crisis (1957).

Aaron v. Cooper

Supreme Court case enforcing school desegregation.

Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960

Legislation aimed at protecting African-American voting rights.

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, youth-led civil rights group.

De jure segregation

Segregation enforced by law.

De facto segregation

Segregation occurring by circumstance or social norms.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States (1865).

14th Amendment

Established citizenship and equal protection under law (1868).

15th Amendment

Prohibited voting discrimination based on race (1870).

Sit-Ins

Nonviolent protests at segregated establishments.

Legalist Strategy

Approach using courts to challenge segregation.

15th Amendment

Ratified in 1870, grants voting rights to all citizens.

Section 1 of 15th Amendment

Voting rights cannot be denied based on race.

Section 2 of 15th Amendment

Congress can enforce voting rights through legislation.

14th Amendment

Ratified in 1868, protects former slaves' rights.

Incorporation

Applying federal Bill of Rights to states.

Due Process Clause

Ensures fair treatment under the law.

Equal Protection Clause

Guarantees equal protection under the law.

Slaughterhouse Cases (1875)

Supreme Court ruled against automatic incorporation.

Federal Courts' Role

Involved in state cases for protected rights.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Struck down school segregation via equal protection.

Jim Crow Era

Period of legalized racial segregation post-Civil War.

Separate but Equal

Legal doctrine justifying racial segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Established 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Disfranchisement

Denial of voting rights, especially to African Americans.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Guaranteed equal access to public accommodations.

Louisiana Segregation Law (1890)

Mandated separate railroad cars for blacks.

Federal Intervention

Federal action against state discrimination.

Judicial Interpretation

Court's role in interpreting constitutional provisions.

Public Spaces Segregation

Legal separation of races in public areas.

Cult of Whiteness

Societal belief reinforcing white supremacy.

Systematic Codification

Legal establishment of racial segregation laws.

Legalized Segregation

Laws enforcing racial separation in society.

Voting Rights Enforcement

Congress's power to protect voting rights.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court case affirming 'separate but equal'.

Homer Plessy

Light-skinned African American who challenged segregation.

Separate but Equal

Legal doctrine asserting equal facilities for races.

Thurgood Marshall

Key NAACP lawyer and civil rights leader.

Sweatt v. Painter

Case challenging segregation in Texas law schools.

McLaurin v. Oklahoma Regents

Case addressing segregation in Oklahoma education.

Intangible Benefits

Non-physical advantages of integrated education.

Howard University Law School

Institution pivotal in training civil rights lawyers.

Civil Rights Movement

Social movement advocating for racial equality.

Charles Hamilton Houston

Mentor of Thurgood Marshall and NAACP leader.

Legal Defense Fund

NAACP's fund for civil rights legal battles.

Extracurricular Activities

Non-academic programs enhancing student experience.

Reputation in Education

Perception affecting future employment opportunities.

Minority Opinion

Dissenting opinion in a court ruling.

Constitutional Challenge

Legal argument against a law's constitutionality.

Civil Rights Attorneys

Lawyers focused on racial equality cases.

Segregated School Systems

Educational institutions separated by race.

Legal Strategy

Planned approach to challenge segregation legally.

Direct Attack on Plessy

NAACP's strategy to undermine 'separate but equal'.

Physical Facilities

Tangible aspects of educational institutions.

Professional Contacts

Networking opportunities for career advancement.

Discourse Access

Ability to participate in academic discussions.

Sweatt v. Painter

Supreme Court case challenging educational segregation.

McLaurin v. Oklahoma

Case reinforcing equal educational opportunities for blacks.

Chief Justice Fred Vinson

Wrote opinions in landmark segregation cases.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Organized legal challenges against segregation in education.

Stare decisis

Legal principle that establishes law through precedent.

Thurgood Marshall

Key NAACP leader advocating for civil rights.

To Secure These Rights

Truman's report advocating for civil rights reforms.

Jim Crow

Laws enforcing racial segregation in the South.

Civil Rights Initiatives

Efforts to promote equality and justice for all.

Groundbreaking cases

Legal victories dismantling segregation in education.

Racial integration

Combining racially segregated groups into one.

Legal precedents

Judicial decisions that influence future cases.

Physical aspects of education

Tangible resources like facilities and materials.

Intangibles in education

Non-physical factors like reputation and culture.

Civil Rights Movement

Struggle for social justice and equality.

Segregation

Separation of people based on race or ethnicity.

Federal government's agenda

National priorities addressing civil rights issues.

Elimination of segregation

Aiming to end racial separation in society.

Congratulatory letters

Messages of support for legal achievements.

Blueprint for equality

Plan for achieving civil rights and justice.

Four basic rights

Essential rights identified by Truman's committee.

Right to Safety and Security

Fundamental right ensuring personal safety.

Right to Citizenship

Entitlement to legal status and privileges.

Right to Equality of Opportunity

Advocates equal access to opportunities for all.

To Secure These Rights

1947 report promoting civil rights reforms.

Anti-Lynching Legislation

Laws aimed at preventing racially motivated lynchings.

Abolition of Poll Tax

Elimination of tax required for voting access.

Voting Rights Statutes

Laws ensuring fair voting practices and access.

Fair Employment Practices Committee

Body to address workplace discrimination issues.

Desegregation of Armed Forces

Ending racial segregation in military services.

Civil Rights Division

Justice Department unit focused on civil rights enforcement.

Civil Rights Suits

Legal actions addressing violations of civil rights.