The Civil Rights Movement 1954-1968

1. Chapter 14 The Civil Rights Movement 1954-1968

2. The Segregation System • Plessy v Ferguson • Supreme court case that the separate but equal is legal • What did this case lead to in many states? • Answer-Led to the establishment of Jim Crow Laws (segregation)

3. Segregation Continues into the 20th Century • After the Civil War, many African Americans moved north • Tried to escape segregation • Still encountered racism and segregation • Eisenhower believed people had to allow racism and segregation to end gradually

4. A Developing Civil Rights Movement • WWII set the stage for Civil Rights • 3 Reasons • 1 provided job opportunities for blacks • 2.Many blacks fought for other people’s freedom • 3. Civil Rights organizations won rights during the war

5. Challenging Segregation in Court • Campaign led largely by NAACP • The NAACP Legal Strategy • Charles Hamilton focused on inequality in schools • Placed his best students under Thurgood Marshall • Began arguing and winning many cases

6. Brown v Board of Education 1954 • Linda Brown and Board of Education of Topeka Kansas • Thurgood Marshall argued and won the case • What was the importance? • Answer-The Supreme court unanimously struck down segregation • Thurgood Marshall first African American appointed to the supreme Court

7. Brown v. Board of Education- 1954 • State officials had a variety of responses • No problem • Take some time • Never

8. Resistance to School Desegregation • Within a year 500 school districts desegregated • What was the importance of the Brown II ruling in 1955 • Answer-The Supreme Court ordered schools to desegregate faster

9. Crisis in Little Rock • Governor Oval Faubus publicly showed support for segregation • Who were the Little Rock 9? • Answer- 9 black students who volunteered to integrate Central High School

10. Crisis in Little Rock • President Eisenhower sent in troops • First time since the Civil War • Protect the students in school • Faubus eventually shut down the school • Did this to prevent integration

11. Montgomery Bus Boycott • December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat for a white passenger • Parks arrested • Montgomery Improvement Association organizes a bus boycott

12. Montgomery Bus Boycott • Martin Luther King chosen as their leader • Reason- King’s speaking ability • How Long did the boycott last and was it successful? • Answer-It lasted 381 days and it was successful (Supreme Court ruled in favor of the boycott)

13. Martin Luther King and the SCLC • Montgomery bus Boycott proved that African Americans could unite and organize. • Proved to the world a successful protest movement

14. Changing the World with Soul Force • King based his ideas on Ghandi • Pushed for non-violence called “soul force” • Identify Emmit Till • Answer-young boy killed for talking to a white woman

15. From the Grassroots Up- Identify and Describe the following • Southern Christian Leadership Conference • Answer-Organization of Christians ministers used non-violent protests against racial injustice • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) • Answer-Organization of college studetns organized to fight for civil rights

16. The Movement Spreads- Demonstrating for Freedom • Sit ins • Organized by CORE (Congress on Racial Equality) • African Americans sat at segregated lunch counters • Refused to give up their seats • Most famous was in Greensboro, North Carolina-Greensboro 4 • What was the significance of this action • Answer-This non-violent act was covered by TV and began to spread all over the south

17. The Triumphs of a Crusade

18. Riding for Freedom • Freedom Riders ride buses across the South • Testing Supreme Court on segregating buses • What Happened? • Answer-Black and white college students volunteered to test ruling of riding buses across the south

19. Arrival of Federal Marshals • Riders reach Alabama • Angry white mob attacks and beats them • This is exactly what the riders wanted-why? • Answer-The violence brought attention and sympathy for the movement

20. Civil Rights Workers Encounter Opposition and Violence • Integrating Ole Miss-September 1962 • James Meredith won a federal case • Allowed him to enroll in all-white University of Mississippi • JFK ordered Federal Marshalls to escort Meredith when he registered

21. What was the result of this action? • Answer-Riots broke out on campus to protest Meredith but he did attend and graduate

22. Heading into Birmingham • Considered the most segregated city in the US • MLK went there to protest and was arrested • How did the police, led by Bull Connor, deal with protestors? • Answer-Police used fire hoses and attack dogs to stop the protest march

23. Kennedy takes a Stand • JFK sends troops to Alabama • Force George Wallace to honor court orders to segregate University • JFK called Congress to pass Civil Rights bill • Identify Medger Evers • Answer-NAACP field agent who was killed in the driveway of his home

24. Marching on Washington • Planned march on Washing to support Civil Rights bill • August 23, 1963- 250,000 people converge on capitol • MLK gives famous “I have a dream speech”

25. More Violence • 2 weeks after King’s speech 4 young girls killed in Birmingham • Church bombed • JFK was assassinated • Lyndon Johnson successor passed the Civil Rights Bill • What were the key provision of this bill? • Answer- • Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin and gender. • Gave all citizens equal; access to all public accommodations

26. Fighting for Voting Rights • The next big step • Freedom Summer • Name of project led by college students • 1964 get African-Americans registered to vote • 3 workers killed by local KKK

27. The Selma Campaign • Voter Registration drive • Jimmy Lee Jackson was killed • MLK announced a 50 mile protest • March from Selma to Montgomery • Marchers met by violence

28. Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Ten weeks after Selma march • Major piece of legislation passed • What were the provisions of this bill? • Answer-No more literacy tests to vote and gave Federal government more power to enforce election laws

29. By 1965 Civil Rights leaders were taking movement to new areas. Challenges and Changes in the Movement

30. African Americans Seek Greater Equality • Northern Segregation • De facto segregation- this exists by practice or custom • How is du jure segregation different? • Answer- Du jure is segregation by law

31. Northern Segregation • Activists wanted to share economic and social power (more difficult • Besides equal access to lunch counters and busses • De facto segregation was the result of white flight syndrome

32. Urban Violence Erupts • 1960’s clashes between white authority and black civilians spreads • Discuss the riots in Harlem and Watts • Answer- Clashes between police and blacks led to some of the worst rioting in US history

33. New Leaders Voice Discontent • Several African American leaders wanted followers to take complete control • of their communities • Livelihoods • Culture • Ex. Malcolm X

34. African American Solidarity • Malcolm X was a member of the Nation of Islam (black Muslims) • What was his message to other blacks? • Answer- Blacks should separate from white society and also that blacks should arm and defend themselves • Thought the X was a symbol of his African ancestors

35. Ballots or Bullets • Malcolm made a pilgrimage to Mecca • Changed his thinking • Started to preach racial equality • Broke from nation of Islam • Malcolm was assassinated by members of Nation of Islam 2-21-65

36. Black Power • Tension building among Civil Rights groups • Many younger groups were impatient • Wanted quicker results • Who coined the phrase “Black Power” • Answer-Stockely Carmichael

37. Black Panthers • Oakland, CA- Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founders • Fought police brutality in the ghettos • What were some of the goals of this group? • Answer-End police brutality- exempt blacks from military service- provide services for the black

38. Turning Point in Civil Rights • MLK objected to Black Panther movement • Believed that preaching violence would end in grief • King was planning Poor People’s march on DC

39. Kings Death • King was in Memphis to support a garbage strike • King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 • By who? • Answer-James Earl Ray, caught and sentenced to 99 years

40. Reaction to King’s Death • Led to worst urban riots in US History • 100 cities exploded in flames

41. Civil Rights Gains • Civil rights act of 1964 ended discrimination in housing • Other gains included • Pride in racial identity • Political • Increased schooling

42. Unfinished Work • Needed to equalize education • White flight led to segregation again • Needed to equalize job opportunities • Define affirmative action- • Answer-Policy seeks to correct the effects of past discrimination by favoring certain groups who were previously disadvantaged