USA- Challenge and Conformity-Civil Rights movement 1955-1963

Civil Rights movement 1955-1963

What was the 14th Amendment(1868)?

Guaranteed equal protection under the law

Contradicted racial discrimination in principle

What was Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

Supreme Court upheld “Separate but Equal”

Allowed racial segregation to continue- Blacks and Whites had different restaurants, schools ect.

What were Jim Crow laws?

Laws enforcing racial segregation in the South

Restricted Black Americans’ rights, including voting.

What was lynching?

Killing someone without a legal trial, often through racist violence

What was social inequality in the South?

Segregated buses, toilets, water fountains and other facilities

Black Americans were treated as inferior

What was political inequality?

Around 80% of Black Americans were unable to vote

White officials used unfair tests and registration barriers to prevent voting.

What was economic inequality?

Most Black Southerners had lower economic status

Black universities were segregated and often had fewer qualified teachers

What was legal Inequality?

White Supremacists used violence and intimidation.

Black Americans received inadequate legal protection

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People

Fought for Black Americans civil Rights and equality

SCLC

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Led by Martin Luther King Jr. and supported non violent protest

SNCC

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Organised student led protests and sit ins.

CORE

Congress of Racial Equality

Organised non violent direct action, including the Freedom Rides

MIA

Montgomery Improvement Association

Organised the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Why was Brown v. Board of Education(1954)important?

Supreme Court ruled segregated public schools unconstitutional

Challenged “separate but equal”

Faced strong resistance to integration

Why was Emmett Till’s murder significant?

His murder in 1955 exposed racist violence.

Increased awareness and strengthen support for civil rights.

What caused the Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-56?

Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat.

Black Americans protested against segregated buses.

What was the outcome of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Many Black Americans refused to use the buses

The boycott caused financial losses for the bus company

Bus segregation was ruled unconstitutional.

What happened at Little Rock 1957?

Nine Black Students tried to attend Central High School

Faced Hostility and resistance

Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect them.

Demonstrated resistance to school integration

What were the Greensboro Sit ins 1960?

Four Black students sat at a whites only Woolworths lunch counter

They were refused service

Repeated sit ins inspired more students to protest segregation.

What were the Freedom Rides (1961)?

Activists travelled through the south to challenge segregation on interstate transport

Faced racist violence

Helped end segregated in interstate bus and train stations

The interstate commerce commission enforced the change in Sept 1961.

What was the Birmingham Campaign(1963)?

Protesters challenged segregation in Birmingham, Alabama

Included the Children’s Crusade, involving young people.

Police used fire hoses and dogs against protestors.

Eugene “Bull” Connor

Birmingham’s head of local law enforcement

Used violent tactics against civil rights protestors.

Why was the Birmingham Campaign important?

Television coverage exposed racist violence

Increased public outrage and national media attention

Helped build momentum for civil rights legislation

What was the March of Washington 1963?

More than 250,000 people attended

Demanded racial equality, jobs and freedom

MLK Jr. delivered his “I have a dream Speech”

Increased pressure on President Kennedy to act

Civil Rights Act

1964, following growing pressure from Civil Rights movements

Banned Segregation in many public places and prohibited discrimination in employment.

World War Two affects on Civil Rights

Black Americans experienced better treatment in some places abroad

Many returned home determined to challenge racism and inequality.

Why were non Violent Protests effective?

Attracted Media attention

Exposed the injustice of segregation

Gained public support and put pressure on politicians

How did white segregationists respond to protests?

Violence, threats and intimidation

Attempts to prevent integration

Resistance from officials and white supremacist groups such as the KKK

Why was the NAACP important in Brown v. Board?

Challenged school segregation through the Courts

Helped establish that “separate but equal” was unconstitutional in public education

What was the Significance of Little Rock?

Showed the court rulings did not automatically end segregation

Demonstrated the need for federal government intervention

What did the Sit-ins and Freedom Rides have in common?

Both used non violent direct action

Challenged segregation in public facilities and transport

Inspired more activists to join the movement

Why was 1963 a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement?

Birmingham exposed racist violence to the nation

The March on Washington attracted huge support

Pressure for federal civil rights legislation increased