Civil Rights Movement in America: Key Events and Leaders
The Civil Rights Movement in America fought against segregation and discrimination. Key events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Little Rock Nine, and leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. played crucial roles in challenging unjust laws and advocating for equality and justice. Through boycotts, legal battles, and peaceful protests, progress was made towards desegregation and civil rights enforcement.
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Civil Rights Movement Ch 13 p. 401
13.1 Civil Rights Topics: School Segregation Montgomery Bus Boycott Sit ins
School Segregation 1896 Lawsuit called Plessy vs. Ferguson stated schools could be separate but equal- meaning govt could allow segregation as long as schools were equal ; schools were not equal due to less govt funding NAACP focused on ending segregation in America s public schools ; Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer that worked for the NAACP. He later became a Supreme Court justice (judge). Early 50 s there were 5 states worked together on desegregating schools: lawsuit called Brown vs Board of Education- sued to allow Linda Brown to attend closer school and Supreme Court agreed. Result of lawsuit was that public places (including schools) was illegal (1954).
Little Rock 9 Arkansas (1957) allowed only 9 prestigious African American students to attend all white school. They were nicknamed the Little Rock Nine. National Guard was hired to escort them to and from school. The Governor of Arkansas fought to prevent the 9 from attending. They eventually were denied entry until the US President Eisenhower send troops to ensure entry. The students were harassed, insulted and attacked but 8 of the 9 kept attending and in 1958 Ernest Green was the 1st African American to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas (no one clapped for him). He didn t care-he didn t need their approval -he had accomplished his goal.
Montgomery Bus Boycott Most of the South remained segregated despite the law. NAACP challenged Montgomery, AL public buses on segregation. African Americans were required to sit in the rear and to give up their seats for white riders. Rosa Parks (1955) sat in the front row one day after a long day of work. The bus was eventually filled and the driver insisted Mrs. Parks move to the rear and give her seat to a white man. She refused and was arrested and taken to jail. Boycott of buses was organized in Montgomery. Bus capacity decreased 70%.
Martin Luther King, Jr MIA-Montgomery Improvement Association supported the boycott and asked MLK to join the cause. At 26, MLK was a powerful and influential speaker who motivated and inspired his listeners. He helped organize carpools, taxis, walks, and bicycles to help African Americans transport 381 days without using buses. Boycott gained national attention and sparked other protests. Supreme Court (1956) ruled segregation on public transportation was illegal. MLK became a national known civil rights leader. He formed SCLC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference to promote civil rights in the South.
Sit ins Many private businesses in the South were still segregated and college students challenged these rules by sitting at a popular restaurant bar/counter-meant only for white customers. A sit in is a peaceful demonstration or protest where people sit and refuse to leave. They were not served the coffee they ordered but they stayed until closing time. Many others joined them day by day. Every protester stressed nonviolence. Despite being bullied, threatened, or even spit on, they sat calmly and refused to fight. Eventually many stores had to serve them just to get them to leave which started integration (opposite of segregation). SNCC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee continued to demand equal rights (1960).
13.2 Kennedy and Johnson JFK elected US Pres in 1960 and encouraged Americans to support freedom throughout the world - Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country New Frontier-his programs which included higher minimum wage and tax cuts to help economy, more spending on military and space program (Sputnik in 50s), and assistance to unemployed/poor JFK also supported civil rights movement which gained enormous support from African Americans
Freedom Riders CORE, Congress of Racial Equality pressured JFK to enforce integrated bus stations throughout the country (South). Large groups of mixed ethnicities gathered to ride throughout the south and stop at segregated stations and use the facilities. The riders were mobbed/attacked at bus stops in Alabama and Mississippi-some were even arrested JFK ordered the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce strict bans on segregated bus stations John Lewis-AL Representative today- was a freedom rider and helped MLK organize nonviolent protest
MLK in Bham MLK organized nonviolent protest marches in Birmingham, AL and he was arrested and jailed He wrote a famous speech Letter from Birmingham Jail stressing nonviolent protest Once released, he led more nonviolent protest marches Birmingham police unleashed police dogs and water hoses on marchers - this was televised so the nation witnessed the brutality - shocked Americans (many didn t know what was going on in the South)
March on Washington JFK called racial discrimination a moral crisis and announced his support to end it completely Massive protest (over 250K people attended) in DC in 1963 where MLK spoke at the Lincoln Memorial (ironic?) He gave his famous I Have a Dream speech He expressed his hope for a future in which all Americans would enjoy equal rights and opportunities
JFK assassinated 1963 JFK was in a parade in Dallas, TX-sat in a convertible next to his wife, Jackie Kennedy - he was shot twice and later died at the hospital Later lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for killing JFK VP Lyndon Johnson was quickly sworn in as President while flying over Texas with Jackie Kennedy The assassination stunned America and JFK s goals were unfinished Johnson supported JFK s civil rights legislation and urged Congress to pass it
Civil Rights laws 1964 Civil Rights Act banned segregation in public places and outlawed discrimination in workplaces- could not judge on race, gender, religion, or national origin Freedom Summer of 1964 was when numerous people travelled to the South to help African Americans register to vote - threats and unfair rules kept many from attempting (show Voters Registration Test)- these helpers were threatened and attacked and some were killed KKK killed 3 white civil rights workers in Mississippi; white lady was murdered due to giving an African American a ride to vote
Voting Rights Act of 1965 MLK organized a march from Selma to Montgomery - to the state house where laws are made Bloody Sunday was when these marchers were beaten and some were jailed but they reorganized and did it again to show support of voter registration rights - shown on TV across America Pres Johnson finally signed the law that allowed equality for all Americans - MLK was beside him Within 3 years most African Americans in the South were registered voters
Key Events of Civil Rights Movement p. 414 1955 Rosa Parks arrested led to Montgomery Bus Boycott 1960 Sit ins 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham & UA student denied entry 1964 MLK won Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent protest against segregation 1965 Jimmy Lee Jackson & Johnathan Daniels murders 1968 MLK assassination
The Great Society Johnson s program rested on abundance and liberty for all Americans and Congress supported Pres Johnson s ideas/laws-Medicare, Medicaid, Housing and Urban Development, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Welfare p. 414 Robert Weaver served as HUD secretary and was the 1st African American to serve on a President s Cabinet
Changes in Civil Rights Movement Some people found change was too slow and not enough and others totally rejected integration Stokely Carmichael began Black Power that contradicted MLK nonviolent plea-called for African American independence and actually rejected integration and focused on their own communities Malcolm X inspired Black Power movement and led Nation of Islam -he argued that African Americans should work for social & political independence and encouraged violence to get what he wanted - he was eventually assassinated
Violence in the Streets Frustration led to violence LA Riots - 24 people were killed and the neighborhood was destroyed MLK was assassinated in Memphis, TN in 1968 which led to many other street riots in more than 100 cities
13.3 Rights of Latino Americans Hispanics from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba worked with Cesar Chavez to obtain equal rights through the United Farm Workers (UFW). 5 year strike and boycott against California grape growers until they finally got increased wages and benefits. Chicano Movement formed political party La Raza Unida to fight for equal rights Led to public schools teaching English as a 2nd language and to voting ballots being printed in preferred languages
Womens Movement Equal Pay Act was passed by Congress which required equal salaries for men and women A book The Feminine Mystique described how some women were not satisfied with traditional roles- author, Betty Friedan helped begin National Organization for Women (NOW) which fought for better opportunities and rights for women 1st African American woman elected to Congress-Shirley Chisholm from NY
Effects of Children As women choose to focus on careers, children s lives change After school programs and childcare centers became popular Some kids stay at home as latchkey children -studies show that latchkey children develop more social problems Chart on p. 425
ERA Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1972 outlawed all discrimination based on sex (male/female) but must be approved by 38/50 states. It only received 35 state ratifications (approvals). Phyllis Schlafly was against ERA concerned about families of working mothers and feared equal rights would require women to be possibly be drafted into the military. ERA continues to be debated in each state. Google your state to see if it has ratified ERA .
Native Americans National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) worked to gain control from US govt over reservation lands - 1968 passed Indian Civil Rights Act 1969 American Indian Movement protested on Alcatraz Island in San Fran, CA due to govt takeover of land 1973 Wounded Knee, S Dakota protest ended in 3 deaths Protest accomplished was gaining attention to issues which weren t dealt with until the 70s
Disability Rights Disabled in Action (DIA) formed in 1970 to make people aware of challenges facing people with disabilities Rehabilitation Act of 1973 banned federal agencies from discriminating against disabled people Education of Handicapped Children Act of 1975 requires public schools to provide a quality education to children with disabilities 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act outlawed all discrimination against people with disabilities
TEST TIME Review p. 427 Quizlet Make an A! :)
