Unit 8: The Civil Rights Movement 1945-1975

2. Unit 8: The Civil Rights Movement1945-1975 THE BIG IDEA Through mostly nonviolent protests, African-Americans, women, and other minorities struggled to achieve equality.

3. I. Jim Crow laws set in after Civil War A. Segregation of races 1) 1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson 2) segregation was constitutional “separate but equal”

5. II.Racial Change After WWII A. American Mindset Begins to Change 1. Many AA’s fought in WWII 2. Those who fight for American values deserve equal rights 3. 1947 - Jackie Robinson named “rookie of the year” in MLB 4. NAACP – grows in influence

6. 5. 1954 – Brown v. Board of Education a) Oliver Brown sued Topeka school board so daughter could attend white-only school b) Thurgood Marshall – Brown’s lawyer, later first AA supreme ct justice

7. c) Supreme Ct decides segregation in schools must end d) AL Gov. George Wallace vows to “stand in the way” e) National Guard called to force his compliance

9. III. Demanding Change – Non-violently A. 1955 -- Montgomery, AL Bus Boycott 1. Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat 2. Parks is arrested for violating segregation laws 3. AA’s decide to boycott the Montgomery bus system

10. B. Martin Luther King Jr. “There comes a time when people get tired of being kicked about by the brutal feet of oppression. We have no alternative but to protest. We must sacrifice for our freedom and dignity.” ~MLK 1. Supreme Ct = bus segregation unconstitutional

11. C. 1957 -- SCLC is created 1. Southern Christian Leadership Conference a)non-violent civil rights group led by MLK “Non-violence is not a symbol of weakness…it breeds courage in the face of danger.” ~MLK 1957

12. b) believed in peaceful refusal to follow unjust laws c) “sit-in” – sitting in a “white” area of a cafe, refusing to leave until served d) “freedom rides” – black and white activists together on buses promoting integration

14. D. Racism and Violence Increases 1. racism in Southern courts 2. many AA’s kept from voting in South a) poll tax b) literacy tests 3. April 1963 - Birmingham Campaign a) SCLC organized protest b) MLK arrested and jailed c) protesters blasted w/fire hoses d) MLK’s motel bombed e) most Americans sided w/protesters

17. E. Aug 1963 -- The March on Washington 1) 200,000 people marched to the Lincoln Memorial 2) MLK delivers “I Have a Dream” speech 3) 1964 Civil Rights Bill passes in Congress a) banned racial discrimination in employment or gov’t services b) banned unequal voting requirements c) signed into law by LBJ

18. IV. Demanding Change -- with “Black Power” A. Non-violent methods were too slow, too weak for some A-A’s 1. “The Black Panthers” - led by Stokely Carmichael 2.“The Nation of Islam” - founded by Elijah Mohammed - led by Malcolm X - black nationalism, pride - use violence when necessary “We are non-violent w/ people who are non-violent with us.” ~ Malcolm X - separation from whites is preferred Elijah Mohammed Malcolm X

19. “No sane black man wants integration! No sane white man wants integration! The only solution is complete separation from the white man. Let the black people hire their own kind and build up the black race’s ability to do for itself. That’s the only way the American black man is ever going to get respect.” ~Malcolm X

20. V. The Legacies of Malcolm X and King A. 1965 – X assassinated by “Nation of Islam” members 1. X’s legacy – “Appreciate who you are, where you come from, by any means necessary.” B. 1968 – King shot by James Earl Ray 1. Riots erupt across U.S. – 46 dead 2. RFK asks for calm 3. MLK’s legacy – “Nonviolent change may be slower, but is lasting.”

21. “We can be filled with bitterness and with hatred and a desire for revenge. We can move in that direction as a country, in great polarization, black people amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or, we can make an effort, like Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and replace that violence , that stain of bloodshed that has spread across the land, with compassion and love.”Bobby Kennedy April 4, 1968

22. VI. LBJ’s “Great Society” • 1963 - LBJ asks nation to “continue JFK’s goals.” B. Helping the less fortunate “We have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward toward the Great Society.” ~President Lyndon Baines Johnson

23. 1. Civil Rights a) 1964 – Civil Rights Act passes b) 1965 – Voting Rights Act passes - AA voter registration in South - changed Southern politics forever 2. The War on Poverty a) Job Corps – work training for poor b) Medicare - gov’t healthcare for the elderly 3. Education a) Head Start – free pre-school preparation b) Public Broadcasting (PBS, NPR)

25. VII. The Conservative Resurgence A. 1968 Election – Republican Nixon Wins w/ help from the“silent majority” 1. U.S. shifts from leaning liberal (FDR, JFK, LBJ) a) progressive (Gov’t can help!) i.e. The New Deal (FDR), Great Society (LBJ) b) acceptance of change i.e. hippies, civil rts, JFK’s younger style 2. to leaning conservative a) tradition, law, order, and individual responsibility (Nixon) b) smaller gov’t role in society, less taxes

27. VIII. The Women’s Rights Movement A. WWII -- more women entered work force B. 1950’s – “women were happiest as homemakers” 1. 29% of women had jobs outside home 2. women were pd $.63 for $1.00 men were pd 3. fewer women voted in elections

28. C. 1963 - The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 1. women at home were feeling unfulfilled 2. society was keeping women from achieving their full potential “There is no evidence that children are less happy, healthy, or adjusted, because their mothers work. In fact, working women are happier, better, more mature mothers.” ~ Betty Friedan 1963 The Feminine Mystique

29. D. Feminism Grows 1. the desire for equality b/t men + women 2. 1966 NOW- National Organization for Women fought for: a) 1972 - ERA – Equal Rights Amendment - would guarantee equal rights under the law regardless of gender - has never passed b) 1972 – Title IX – prohibits gender discrimination in education c) 1973 - Roe v Wade – Supreme Ct legalized abortion

30. E. Conservatives’ Criticism of the Women’s Movement 1. Traditional gender roles are being threatened “It doesn’t make sense to let mothers go to work in a factory or office and have them pay other people to do a bad job of bringing up their children.” ~Dr. Benjamin Spock 1945

31. 2004 - Women Today 1. college degrees – women 51%, men 49% 2. voting – women 56%, men 44% 3. work force – women feeling conflicted b/t family and professional life a) many mothers choosing to stay home b) 2007 - The Feminine Mistake by Leslie Bennetts

32. How did a little piece of tapetrigger one of history’s greatscandals? When security guard Frank Wills first noticed the piece of tape covering a door latch in the garage of the Watergate hotel on June 17, 1972, he was not alarmed. He figured that someone during the day had probably been making deliveries and had wanted to keep the door from locking. Wills removed the tape and continued to patrol the building.  Later, however, Wills returned to the door and checked it again. Someone had replaced the tape he had removed earlier. This time, Wills called the police. When the police arrived, they began their search for the intruders they suspected were in the building. Eventually, they surprised a group of five men who had broken into the offices of the Democratic National Committee, which were housed in the Watergate. The group was in the process of installing or repairing advanced eavesdropping equipment. They also had cameras and appeared to be planning to photograph the contents of filing cabinets. It was not clear at first exactly why the burglars had broken into the office. Nor was it known right away whether they had been working on behalf of some other people or group. In fact, many dismissed the incident as nothing more than the bumbling handiwork of petty crooks. However, the story caught the attention of reporters at the Washington Post. And as a result of their efforts, Watergate would soon bring down a President.

33. VIII.The Watergate Scandal A. 1972 – Pres Election approaching 1. June - Burglars caught breaking into Watergate Hotel (Dem headquarters) 2. Nov – Nixon wins re-election by wide margin Nixon McGovern

34. 3. Dec - Washington Post reporters start to investigate the break-in 4. 1973 - Nixon refuses to turn over tapes citing “executive privilege.” 5. Nixon orders Attorney Gen to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox 6. 1974 – Supreme Ct rules tapes must be released 7. An 18 min portion of tape - erased 8. August 8, 1974 – Nixon resigns 9. Gerald Ford becomes President 10. Ford pardons Nixon

35. B. Watergate Legacy 1. Rise of investigative journalism 2. Political cynicism a) before Wgate - 2/3 of people trusted gov’t b) after Wgate – 2/3 of people distrusted gov’t Washington Post investigative reporters – Woodward + Bernstein

38. VIII. 1990’s President Bill Clinton – Success and Scandal A. “Pax Americana” – peace and prosperity 1. Thriving Economy 2. Balanced U.S. Budget 3. Stock Market Success STOCK MARKET FEDERAL DEFICIT

39. B. Pres Clinton Impeachment Scandal 1) 1998 – Clinton impeached by Congress for lying under oath, obstruction of justice 2) intense polarization and partisanship 3) not removed from office

40. The Clinton Legacy

41. 2000 Presidential Election A. George W. Bush vs. Al Gore 1. Gore wins popular vote 2. Florida is disputed 3. Supreme Ct - Bush won Florida 4. Bush wins electoral vote EVPV Bush 271 50,456,169 Gore 266 50,996,116