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