1939-1964 Flashcards
How many African Americans fought overseas in WWII?
125,000 segregated troops mostly in support roles
What was the Double V campaign?
- To destroy foreign enemies (win WWII)
- To destroy internal enemies (gain civil rights in the US)
What were the goals of the Double V campaign?
- To defeat foreign enemies (win WWII)
- To defeat internal enemies (gain civil rights)
What were the twin goals of the Double V campaign? (Civil rights)
- The full employment of constitutional rights for all African Americans
- To allow African Americans to fully serve in the “defence industries of the country”
How did the war affect the NAACP?
It caused membership to increase rapidly
How did the Second World War affect migration?
- Many African Americans migrated north during the war
- They increasingly found steady jobs due to the lack of white labour in the country
- They were occasionally elected as public officials in the North
How did the Second World War affect jobs for African Americans?
- It caused many African Americans to migrate north
- They were able to find stable jobs in industry due to the lack of a white workforce
- They were occasionally elected as public officials
How did the Second World War affect jobs for African Americans?
- It caused many African Americans to migrate north
- They were able to find stable jobs in industry due to the lack of a white workforce
- They were occasionally elected as public officials
Name 4 negatives that WW2 entailed for African Americans?
- The army was formally segregated throughout the war
- Segregated units were subjected to frequent discrimination including the Tuskegee Airmen which were one of the most decorated flying units in the USAF
- The Red Cross wouldn’t accept blood donations from black soldiers
- When black servicemen returned home, nothing had changed in terms of their segregation and treatment despite their service to their country
When were the armed forces segregated?
1948
Who segregated the US Armed Forces?
Harry S Truman
Did Truman signing the executive order to end segregation work?
Yes it did legally, however despite formally ending segregation often continued in the US army in succeeding wars
Overall did WWII have more of a positive than negative impact for African Americans?
Positive - nothing changed for the worse throughout the war for them, however benefits were found through African American northern migration, and increasing attention brought to the civil rights movement.
What were Dwight D Eisenhower’s term dates?
1953-1961
When was the lynching of Emmet Till?
August 28th 1955
Where was the lynching of Emmet Till?
Mississippi
Who was Emmet Till abducted by?
Roy Bryant and J W. Milam
Who was Emmett Till killed by?
Roy Bryant and other members of the local white community
How did Emmet Till die?
- He was beaten
- Shot in the head
- His body was dumped in the river
Why was Emmett Till killed?
Carolyn Bryant accused Emmett of groping and making sexual remarks about her in her store
What was Emmett Till’s mother called?
Mamie Till
What choice did Emmett’s mother make about his funeral?
Her son should have an open casket funeral to “let the people see what they did to my boy”
How did the jury rule in the criminal prosecution of J W Milam and Roy Bryant?
Not guilty
How long did it take the jury of Emmett Till’s case to come to their decision?
1 Hour
What was the makeup of jury on Emmet Till’s court case?
All white
How did the true story about Emmett Till come out?
J W. Milam and Roy Bryant were paid $4000 dollars for an exclusive interview with Look magazine, where they admitted to kidnapping and murdering Till
What protected J W. Milam and Roy Bryant after they admitted to the murder?
Double Jeopardy
What did the lynching of Emmet Till inspire?
Rosa Parkes refusing to give up her seat
When did Rosa Parkes refuse to give up her seat?
1955
How did African Americans protest their discrimination on busses?
Boycotting
How was the bus system protests effective?
75% of the bus users were black - therefore a black boycott would be incredibly damaging for the bus company
How much money did the bus company loose as a result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
3000 dollars a day
Who was elected the leader of the Montgomery Improvement Association?
MLK
How did African Americans manage to continue their normal lives throughout the boycott?
A carpool system
How long did the bus boycott last?
381 days
How did white segregationists react to the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
They attempted to intimidate the African American population, with the KKK being involved in several violent incidents
Why was non-violence used as a tactic in the Montgomery Bus Boycotts?
To show the moral superiority of African Americans over white segregationists
Was the Montgomery Bus Boycott a success?
Yes
What Supreme Court case ruled segregation on buses in Montgomery unconstitutional?
Browder vs. Gayle
What was the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott? (4)
- Ended segregation on buses in Montgomery with Supreme Court decision
- Violence against African Americans continued and intensified
- It put MLK in the public eye for the first time time, establishing his reputation as an effective civil rights leader
- Established a doctrine of non-violent protest as a driver of change
When was the Brown vs Board of education case?
1954
What did Brown vs Board of eduction rule?
Segregation in schools to be unconstitutional
Who was the NAACP lawyer on the Brown vs Board of Education case?
Thurgood Marshall
Why was the NAACP’s case on segregation targeted at education? (2)
- There was widespread evidence education was unequal (thus easy to prove)
- Desegregating education would encourage more social integration between young people
What town’s board of education did the NAACP take to court?
Topeka Board of Education
Who was the student that the NAACP took the case on behalf of?
Linda Brown
What was the NAACP lawyer’s argument for why segregation in education should be outlawed?
Segregation created a sense of inferiority that undermined their motivation and deprived them of educational opportunities that would be available in integrated schools
How did the Supreme Court rule in Brown Vs Board of Education?
In favour of Brown ruling segregation in education was illegal
How did the Supreme Court structure the timeframe of their ruling in Brown Vs Board of Education?
- Left it intentionally vague
- Stated that it should be carried out with “all deliberate speed”
Why did the Supreme Court word their decision on the Brown Vs Board of education the way they did?
They were worried about the southern response and how it might undermine their authority or lead to another civil war
What were 2 challenges to the ruling of the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education?
- The Southern Manifesto - 77 Southern Members of the House of Representatives signed it to prevent the integration of races
- White Citizens Councils - By mid 1955, around 60,000 white people had joined the White Citizen’s Council in Mississippi, which was supported by most southern politicians who also tried to prevent desegregation through various measures
Who was the Governor of Arkansas?
Orval Faubus
Where was the first school to have African American students attend a previously white school after Brown vs Board?
Little Rock, Arkansas
What was the name of the group of African American students that joined the first desegregated school following Brown vs Board of Education?
Little Rock Nine
What did the governor of Arkansas do to prevent the black students from initially entering the school?
Ordered the National Guard to block their entrance
How did Eisenhower react to the Governor of Arkansas blocking entry to the African American students into the newly desegregated high school?
- Called Governor Faubus in for a meeting to warn him not to disobey federal rulings
- Federalised Arkansas’s national guard
- Ordered the 101st Airborne Division (paratroopers) to escort the Little Rock Nine into the building
What was the name of the school in Little Rock that was desegregated?
Central High
Why did the Governor of Arkansas act the way he did?
A recent hard fought election made Faubus believe he needed white segregationist’s vote to stay in power
Name 4 African American Civil Rights Groups
- NAACP
- CORE
- SNCC
- SCLC
What does the NAACP stand for?
National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
When was the NAACP founded?
1909
Who was a founder of the NAACP?
WEB Dubois
Who was the leader of the NAACP in 1955?
Roy Wilkins
What was Roy Wilkins’ strategy for how to achieve civil rights?
Legislation and the courts, based off of the success of Brown vs Board
What does CORE stand for?
Congress Of Racial Equality
Who founded CORE?
James Farmer
What does SNCC stand for?
Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee
Who founded SNCC?
Ella Baker
Name 2 Student Led Civil Rights Groups
- CORE
- SNCC
What approach did CORE and SNCC to tackling the civil rights issues?
Direct, non-violent action as opposed to the NAACP’s more legal approach
What are examples of the direct, non-violent action undertaken by CORE and SNCC?
- Freedom Riders
- Sit ins
When were the Freedom Riders?
1961
When did the Supreme Court rule that the segregation of waiting rooms, terminals and public restrooms were unconstitutional?
1960
What were the Freedom Riders?
A campaign where African Americans would ride on inter-state buses
Who organised the Freedom Riders movement?
James Farmer
What was the purpose of the Freedom Riders?
To draw attention to the lack of enforcement of the new civil rights laws
What was the white segregationists response?
- Assaulted many individual protestors
- Firebombed buses
When was the Sit-in movement?
1960
Where did the Sit-in movement begin?
Greensboro, North Carolina in a Woolworth Department store
What inspired the Sit-in movement?
Indian non-violent protest and Gandhi
How did the Sit-in protest work?
- Protestors (mostly students) would sit in all available spaces in a restaurant or cafe
- They would request service
- They would refuse to leave when they were denied service because of their race
How many protestors were involved in the Sit-in movement?
70,000 black and white participants
How many states were affected by the Sit-in movement?
20
What was the racial make up of the Sit-in movement protestors?
Mostly African Americans HOWEVER some White protestors were involved as well
What does the SCLC stand for?
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
When was the SCLC founded?
1957 after the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Who founded and led the SCLC?
MLK
What strategy did the SCLC take in order to tackle the issue of civil rights?
Non-violent protest, using the boycott as a barometer of previous success in that field
What was the first University be desegregated?
Ole Miss
Who was the first African American student to graduate a desegregated university?
James Meredith
When was the University of Mississippi desegregated?
1960
How did students at Ole Miss react to the first African American student?
They informed students that it was their constitutional right to not socialise and fraternise with James Meredith
When was the Birmingham Campaign?
1963
Who was the Commissioner of Public Safety in Birmingham, Alabama?
Bull Connor
Who was the Police Chief in Albany, Georgia?
Laurie Pritchett
Was the campaign to desegregate the city of Albany, Georgia successful?
No
Why was the campaign in Albany, Georgia unsuccessful?
Laurie Pritchett had instructed his officers to peacefully deal with protestors, ensuring no negative publicity on the party of the authorities
What was the % of Black people in Birmingham?
40%
What % of African Americans in Birmingham could vote?
10%
What were the conditions like for African Americans in Birmingham?
- They could not work as civil servants, thus there were no black police officers or fire fighters
- Segregation was rigidly enforced in the city
- King described Birmingham as ‘the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States’
Why did MLK choose Birmingham to protest? (2)
- He believed that if he could desegregate “the most throughly segregated city in the United States”, they could desegregate anything
- They believed Bull Connor to be a very rash man, whom they could get a big overreaction out of
How did the SCLC protest in Birmingham?
Sit-ins which included children
What was Bull Connor’s reaction to the protests?
- Used the fire department to spray the protestors
- Instructed the police force to use dogs
How many children were arrested on May 2nd 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama?
959
On what day were 959 children arrested in Birmingham, Alabama?
May 2nd 1963
How many demonstrators were jailed by May 7th in Birmingham Alabama?
3000
On what date were 3000 demonstrators jailed in Birmingham, Alabama?
May 7th 1963
How was the Birmingham Campaign successful?
- Connor’s actions brought a lot of media attention to the segregation in Birmingham
- This won the support of the American Public
- This brought the attention of the conditions of the south to millions of Americans, including Kennedy
When was the March on Washington?
August 28th 1963
Who organised the March on Washington?
Various civil rights groups including the SCLC and NAACP
Who was involved in the Birmingham Campaign?
SCLC and SNCC
How many people attended the March on Washington?
250,000 people
What was the goal of the March on Washington? (4)
- To shine a spotlight on the economic inequalities between black and white people
- To pressure the government into passing federal law to end segregation
- To bring about fairer voting rights for African Americans
- To bring full integration of public schools
What did Lyndon B Johnson pass in 1964?
Civil Rights Bill
What state was Lyndon B Johnson senator for prior to being vice president?
Texas
Did Johnson support the Southern Manifesto?
No
What did the Civil Rights Act Achieve? (5)
- Outlawed discrimination in all areas of public accommodation
- Created an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with powers to outlaw job discrimination by employers and labour unions on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or National origin
- Ended Jim Crow
- Allowed the federal government to legally target De Jure segregation in the South
- Furthered school desegregation
Did the Civil Rights Act pass easily?
Passed with resounding majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate
What was Malcom X’s original name?
Malcom Little
Where was Malcom X born?
Nebraska, Oklahoma
When was Malcom X born?
1925
What was Malcom X’s early life like? (5)
- His family was constantly uprooted
- They regularly received death threats
- His house was burnt down when he was 4
- His dad was killed
- His mother was sent to a mental institution
Who influenced Malcom X’s parents?
Marcus Garvey
At what age did Malcom X drop out of school?
15
Why did Malcom X change his surname?
He felt as though his surname “little” was affiliated with his families previous slave owners
How long did Malcom X spend in prison?
7 years
What did Malcom X join while in prison?
Nation of Islam
What did the NOI’s membership go to between 1952 to 1963?
500 - 30,000
Over what years did NOI’s membership go from 500 - 30,000?
1952-1963
What did the Nation of Islam believe in?
- Racial uplift/pride (similar to Garvey)
- An opposition to police brutality
- Address African American economic injustice
Why is racial pride an issue?
White people have set the standard form for beauty, thus black people have a preconception that they are ugly because they do not have white features.
Why did Malcom X and MLK disagree?
X didn’t like MLK’s non-violence as he believed it to be unproductive and futile
Why did Malcom X and the Nation of Islam fall out?
Officially
- His comment on the assassination of JFK
Unofficially
- The NOI’s fear that X was becoming bigger than the organisation
When was X assassinated?
21st February 1965
Who killed Malcom X?
Members of the Nation of Islam
What did his legacy inspire?
Other black power organisations like the Black Panther Party
What did Malcom X believe was the best way to achieve equality? (2)
- To defend the RIGHTS guaranteed under the CONSTITUTION by ANY MEANS NECESSARY without waiting for white people to do it for them
- He actively opposed direct white support from the community believing that instead of joining Black Power organisations that they should work within their own communities to aid the African American movement
Who was the Police Chief in Selma?
Jim Clark
Why did MLK choose Selma to protest African American voting restrictions?
- The issue was especially prevalent there
- African Americans made up 50% of the population, and just 1% of the registered electorate
What impact did the police brutality have on the Selma to Montgomery Marches?
It produced publicity and federal protection for the march
What was the result of the Selma to Montgomery Marches?
The Voting Rights Act
When were the Selma to Montgomery Marches?
1965
Where did the Voting Rights Act pass?
1965
What did the Voting Rights Act abolish?
Literacy tests and poll taxes
How has the Voting Rights Act been described by the US Department of Justice?
“The most effective piece of federal civil rights legislation ever enacted in the country
Name 2 ways the Act ensure that states couldn’t just implement other measures to prevent African Americans from voting
- Prohibited states or local governments from implementing laws that inhibit people from voting based on their race
- Prohibited certain jurisdictions from implementing any change affecting votes without first receiving confirmation from the US attorney general
How have the benefits of the Voting Rights Act manifested themselves outside of simply allowing African Americans the right to vote?
It has been linked to greater public goods provisions (public education) for areas with higher black populations
What did the percentage of black adults in Mississippi registered to vote go from in 1964 to 1968?
6.7-67.5
How many African Americans actually voted in 1976?
50%
