African American Civil Rights Test Review Notes

African American Civil Rights: Test Review Sheet

Materials to Review

  • Civil Rights Notes: Comprehensive notes covering various aspects of the civil rights movement.

  • Video Notes: Summaries of key video content related to civil rights.

  • American History Textbook: Sections relevant to the civil rights movement and context.

  • Class Handouts: Additional materials provided during classes.

Unit Standards

  • Standard #1: Explain how civil rights organizations and leaders sought change through the courts.

  • Standard #2: Explain how civil rights organizations and leaders sought change through demonstrations.

  • Standard #3: Analyze major developments of the civil rights movement.

  • Standard #4: Analyze the goals and tactics of leading civil rights advocates and organizations.

  • Standard #5: Identify the significance of important people and groups from the civil rights era.

Terms, People, and Concepts to Review

  • Vernon Baker: Notable for his service in World War II, and for being awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Italy.

  • Port Chicago Explosion: A munitions explosion in California that killed 320 sailors and civilians, highlighting racial injustices against African American workers.

  • Jackie Robinson: The first African American to play in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier.

  • De Facto vs. De Jure Segregation:

    • De Facto Segregation: Racial separation occurring through social norms rather than legislative enactments.

    • De Jure Segregation: Racial separation enforced by law.

  • Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

  • NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People): Established in 1909, played a crucial role in ending De Jure segregation and advocating for civil rights.

  • Brown v. Board of Education: Landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, marking a significant victory in the civil rights movement.

    • Thurgood Marshall: NAACP legal counsel and the first African American Supreme Court Justice; key figure in Brown v. Board of Education.

  • Little Rock Nine: A group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, known for the integration crisis that tested the Brown decision.

  • Purpose of March on Washington (1963): Aimed to demonstrate the demand for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

  • 1964 Civil Rights Act: Legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

  • Literacy Test: Used to disenfranchise African American voters, requiring potential voters to demonstrate reading skills.

  • Freedom Summer (1964): A campaign aimed at increasing voter registration among African Americans in Mississippi.

  • Purpose of Selma March (1965): To protest voting rights discrimination, leading to the Voting Rights Act.

  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: Landmark legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

  • 24th Amendment: Prohibition of poll taxes in federal elections.

  • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): Civil rights organization formed to give younger African Americans a voice in the civil rights movement.

  • Children’s March: A significant event where children were involved in nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama.

  • Eugene "Bull" Connor: Birmingham city commissioner known for his aggressive segregationist policies and tactics against civil rights activists.

Philosophies and Important Events in the Civil Rights Movement

  • MLK Jr. Philosophy: Advocated for nonviolent protest and civil disobedience against unjust laws inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles.

  • Malcolm X Philosophy: Emphasized black self-determination and the right to defend oneself against violence, often promoting a more militant approach compared to MLK.

  • Rosa Parks: Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

  • Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): A pivotal protest against racial segregation on public transportation, resulting in the desegregation of the bus system in Montgomery.

    • Results of Montgomery Bus Boycott: Led to a Supreme Court ruling declaring that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): An organization founded in 1957 to coordinate nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination.

  • Freedom Rides (1961): Civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States to challenge the non-enforcement of Supreme Court decisions.

  • Black Power: A movement advocating for racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions for black people in America.

  • Stokely Carmichael: A key figure in the Black Power movement and former chair of SNCC, known for his advocacy of black pride.

  • Black Panthers: Founded in 1966, this organization aimed to address issues of police brutality and economic exploitation within African American communities; provided community services such as food programs and education.