Quest for civil rights

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? Jim Crow laws

Jim Crow laws were introduced in 1917 to segregate everything from public facilities to the workplace. Black people had to pass a literacy test to vote, and many polling stations were surrounded by white people ready to beat up any black people who tried to vote. The number of black Americans registered to vote had dropped considerably by 1917.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? Lynchings and the KKK

Lynchings and the KKK were prevalent, with 65 white men and 579 black men being lynched between 1915 and 1930. The KKK had a revival in 1915 and created anti-black communities that many felt too intimidated by to reject.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? Federal government intervention

Federal government intervention was limited, with the Supreme Court's 1896 Plessy v Ferguson ruling that segregation was legal if equal but separate. President Harding spoke against lynching, but President Wilson had no problem with segregation. During the depression, the government focused even less on civil rights as an issue.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? Migration

The Great Migration between 1917 and 1932 saw many black Americans moving from the South to the North and East. Churches became significant bases for civil rights protests, and many civil rights leaders were preachers. The South's labour force shrunk, and there was an assumption that those who stayed accepted Jim Crow laws.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? New Deal

The New Deal did not cater to many black Americans, and black people were constantly moved off projects to make way for whites. FDR issued Executive Order 8802, banning racial discrimination in the defense industry, and some measures helped, but the social security provisions of the New Deal didn't apply to farm workers or those who worked in other people's homes.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? WW2

The impact of World War II induced boom did not benefit black Americans much. A march was threatened by A. Philip Randolph unless FDR banned discrimination in the army and defence industries. Roosevelt's Executive Order 8802 for non-discrimination in defence work stopped this march.

How and why did black Americans fight for civil rights 1917-80? President Truman

President Truman supported civil rights, proposed anti-lynching, anti-segregation and fair employment laws in 1954 but failed to push them through Congress. He set up the President's Committee in 1946, which called for equal opportunities in work and housing, and issued executive orders desegregating the military and all work done by businesses for the government in 1948.

Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil rights protest in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 and 1956. It was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person. The boycott, organized by black leaders including Martin Luther King Jr., lasted for 381 days and resulted in a significant economic impact on the bus companies. It ended when the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. The boycott was a powerful example of nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience, and influenced future civil rights protests.

Little Rock

The Little Rock Nine were a group of black students who enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, marking the first time black students attended a previously all-white school in the South. Governor Faubus attempted to prevent their attendance, but President Eisenhower intervened and federalized the National Guard to ensure their safety. The students faced harassment and violence, highlighting the struggle for racial equality and resistance to desegregation in the South.

Selma to Montgomery march

The Selma to Montgomery march was a pivotal event in the civil rights movement, held on March 7, 1965 in Selma, Alabama. The march was organized to demand voting rights for African Americans, who faced significant barriers to voting. As marchers attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were met with violent opposition from state troopers and local law enforcement officers. The event sparked outrage and public support for the civil rights movement, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Greensboro sit-ins

The Greensboro sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests in 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina, where four African American college students sat at a segregated lunch counter in a Woolworth's store and refused to leave when they were denied service. The protest quickly gained national attention and sparked similar sit-ins across the country.

impact of civil rights movement

* The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned segregation in public places and outlawed employment discrimination.
* The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
* The Civil Rights Movement brought about changes in education, with court rulings leading to the integration of schools.
* The movement also brought attention to issues such as police brutality and economic inequality.
* The impact of the Civil Rights Movement extended beyond African Americans, inspiring other movements for social justice.

fight for civil rights significant impact on American society.

* African Americans challenged institutionalized racism and segregation, leading to legal and social changes.


* The Civil Rights Movement was driven by grassroots activism, protests, and legal challenges.
* Key leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., helped to galvanize public support for civil rights.

direct action of civil rights movement

Direct action was a nonviolent protest method used by the Civil Rights Movement in the US to challenge discriminatory laws and practices. Examples of direct action include sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and protests. It was a significant factor in bringing about the passage of key civil rights legislation, and helped to bring attention to the injustices faced by black Americans.

Black Power: What was the split in the CRM in 1965?

* In 1965, there was a split in the Civil Rights Movement (CRM).


* The split occurred in the CRM in 1965 due to disagreements on the effectiveness of nonviolent protest and the direction the movement should take.

Black Power: What was the Lowndes County Freedom Organisation?

• In 1965, SNCC leader Stokely Carmichael set up the Lowndes County Freedom Organisation.

• The group used the panther symbol and slogan "Vote for the Panther, then go home".

Black Power: What happened in the march against fear in 1966?

• In 1966, James Meredith led the march against fear through Mississippi.

• He was shot on the second day.

• Martin Luther King Jr. took over, urging multiracial non-violent behaviour, but Carmichael said this wasn't working.

• He wanted the CRM and the SNCC to radicalize.

Black Power: What did Carmichael mean by "radicalize"?

• Carmichael meant that the CRM and the SNCC should adopt more aggressive tactics, such as civil disobedience and self-defence.

Black Power: What was the impact of the Black Panthers' ten-point program?

The Black Panthers' ten-point program influenced other civil rights organizations to adopt more radical demands and tactics.

Black Power: How did the NAACP's approach change in response to the Black Power movement?

The NAACP's approach changed to focus more on legal action and electoral politics, rather than direct action and protest.