Civil Rights Movement and more

1. Civil Rights Movement and more 1950-1975

2. What was the Civil Rights Movement? • Even though slavery has long been over, African Americans were still not receiving equal rights • A person’s civil rights are the rights that countries guarantee their citizens like the right to vote, free speech and assembly

3. An Important Case • Brown vs. Board of Education • In 1954, the parents of Linda Brown went to court against the Board of Education in Kansas • They believed that their daughter was not getting the same education as white students b/c she attended a segregated school • The court ruled that segregation was illegal under the Constitution and ordered desegregation in all public schools

4. Brown vs. Board of Education

5. Important People • Thurgood Marshall was the civil rights lawyer that brought the Brown vs. Board of Education case to the US Supreme Court • Martin Luther King Jr. • Rosa Parks

6. Martin Luther King Jr. • Helped lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott • Inspired many people with his speeches and courage • He believed in nonviolent protest- a way of bringing about change without using violence

7. Montgomery Bus Boycott • In Alabama, the buses were segregated • City law said African Americans had to sit in their own section usually in the back of the bus • Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger • She was arrested by the police • Members of her church organized a boycott of the buses • In late 1956, segregation on buses became illegal

8. Montgomery Bus Boycott

9. March on Washington • In 1963, Congress was discussing a bill to end segregation in the US • To show support for the bill, King and other leaders organized a protest march • King gave his most famous speech (“I Have a Dream”) there • The March caused more people to join the fight for desegregation

10. March on Washington

11. Important Laws Civil Rights Act (1964) • Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress worked together to pass this bill • The law banned segregation in schools, workplaces, and all public places

12. Voting Rights Act • Was passed by Congress in 1965 • The law made it illegal to prevent or hinder citizens from voting because of their race

13. The Space Race • While JFK was president, the US entered the Space Race • This was a competition with SU to send people into space • SU sent Sputnik into space to circle the earth • SU sent the first person to space • US rushed to catch up! • We also put someone in outer space and John Glenn orbited the earth • JFK promised that we would beat SU to the moon; Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin eventually walked on it

14. First Man on the Moon

15. The Vietnam War • The country of Vietnam was split like Korea- the North was communist and the South was non-communist • In the 1960’s, a group of communists in South Vietnam (the Vietcong) tried to overthrow the non-communist government • At first the US only sent supplies to help South Vietnam fight back, but then…

16. The Vietnam War • We sent American troops to help • We had advanced technology working for us like tanks and bombers- we attacked a lot from the air • However, the Vietcong were fast-moving, tricky, and practiced guerilla warfare • As the war raged on, many Americans were unhappy with our involvement

17. Combat

18. The Vietnam War • Many of our soldiers were dying • The war was also costing us billions of dollars • America was split over whether or not we should continue fighting in the war • Some thought we should stay out of a war that is not ours • Some thought it was our job to help stop communism

19. Anti-War Protests

20. War comes to an end • Nixon became president in 1969 and started to bring our troops home from Vietnam • We also reduced our bomber attacks • Finally, in 1973, a cease-fire was signed • Once all the US soldiers were home, North Vietnam attacked again and succeeded in taking over the country two years later

21. The Growth of the Television • By 1960, almost 9 out of every 10 homes had a television • The invention of the television changed how people learned about their world • Entertainment and news came right into people’s living rooms • The world seemed much smaller

22. It’s a Family Activity!

23. Assassinations • 1968 (five years after his famous march)- MLK was assassinated • People were angry and reacted with violence • The civil rights movement lost an important leader • King had become a symbol of peaceful change

24. Extra Information • MLK was 39 when he was killed • He was killed at the Loraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee • The person who shot him was James Earl Ray, a fugitive from a Missouri prison • He was caught at a London airport and forced back to the US • MKL was standing on the second floor balcony when he was shot

25. JFK • 1963- JFK was assassinated in Dallas, TX • He did not live to see his moon landing • People were shocked and saddened • Some lost hope that his plans as president would be carried out and others wanted to make sure that they did • Lyndon B. Johnson (his VP) took over office

26. Extra Information • When he was shot, JFK was sitting next to his wife in a presidential motorcade traveling through Dealey Plaza • Lee Harvey Oswald was the sniper who shot him • Oswald was captured, but never got taken to trial because he was shot two days later by Jack Ruby

27. Robert Kennedy • 1968- Robert Kennedy was assassinated • He was JFK’s brother • He was running for President and got killed during his campaign • He supported civil rights and aid for the poor

28. Extra Information • The assassination occurred shortly after midnight in Los Angeles, CA • Kennedy had just found out that he won the CA primary election to be a democratic candidate for president • He was shot as he cut through the kitchen at the Ambassador Hotel to avoid reporters