1960s Civil Rights Flashcards
what were the sit ins
-5 black students sat at white only lunch counters in Greensboro, stayed when asked to leave
-named the Greensboro four
-returned the next day with more people, more and more came over time
-70k people took part in sit ins, spreading to northern states
what was the response to the sit ins
-physically attacks
-thousands were arrested, lead to ‘jail not bail’, leading to overcrowded jails
-protestors did not respond with violence
-tactics attracted media, support grew for their case
impacts of the sit ins
-successful
-businesses sold far fewer lunches and sold less goods in stores
-desegregated most facilities
-120 towns and facilities desegregated lunch counters
-shown to public and media, generating huge publicity and sympathy, Eisenhower said he was sympathetic to groups with these efforts
-started SNCC
-white protestors
freedom rides features
-CORE activists that went on interstate transport after the supreme court ruling to desegregate state transport
-wanted to prove the ruling were not always followed
-they aimed to provoke a violent reaction that would generate huge publicity and force federal government to act
-first bus arrived in Anniston but stations closed in fear of trouble. Riders met with angry crowd of KKK led by William Chappell
-bus was attacked, police arrived and cleared path for bus to leave
-2nd bus attacked in Anniston, passengers dragged off and beaten up, but went on to complete journey. Beat up again in Montgomery by Klansmen
-Police chief Bull Connor ordered police to do nothing
-CORE arranged more freedom riders and SNCC became involved as well
-riders arrested for starting a riot
-300 riders jailed
impacts of freedom riders
-riders achieved huge media attention
-president Kennedy threatened to send/ US marshals to desegregate interstate buses and bus station facilities if states did not obey
-buses eventually integrated
Meredith case features
-Black James Meredith applied to Mississippi Uni, rejected due to race
-NAACP took case to court, supreme court ordered Uni to admit him, Uni still rejected
-With governors help, state legislature passed law to deny admission to people who had convicted a felony (Meredith was convicted of false voter registration)
-president ordered laws to desist
-riots on Uni campus as white opposed Meredith
-President Kennedy sent Federal officials to escort Meredith
-Officials attacks, riot followed
-2 civilians died, 300 people injured
-eventually admitted, and guarded by 300 state troops until he graduated
Meredith case impacts
-forced president to act
-showed present would take direct action to enforce supreme court rulings
-black rarely stopped from attending integrated Unis by state or uni authorities, although difficult
MLK background
-middle class family
-father was a minister
-studied at Boston university, gaining doctorate
-became known due to MBB
qualities of MLK to gain widespread support
-well educated, well-spoken and passionate speaker
-emphasised non violence
-worked with all races
-many Americans had a strong Christian faith, his messages emphasised Christian values
-respected US government and Constitution
MLK’s methods of protest
-non violent
-speeches to win support (including whites)
-direct action
-protests to spark violent response to gain publicity (lived in fear, was arrested and imprisoned many times)
how did MLK change after 1965
-tried tackling discrimination in the North
-disappointed with methods he used to win legal reforms which failed to make progress in ending discrimination
-views became more socialist, losing him supporters
-started to tackle poverty, unemployment and housing shortages as a result
-assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, while supporting a worker’s strike
Birmingham peace marches features
-Campaign led by SNCC, SCLC and ACMHR, named Project C
-campaigners aimed to end segregation in Birmingham using sit-ins, boycotts and marches
-Birmingham had not desegregated at all
-45% of city’s inhabitants were Black, potential for large numbers
-Birmingham had an active KKK, Blacks often attacked and home bombed
-most protestors arrested after a few weeks, including MLK
-children’s march took place after, treated badly; 1,000 arrested
-in 2nd children march, Bull Connor set dogs and used powerful hoses on protestors as jails were full
-publicity achieved, shown throughout the world
-Kennedy sent negotiator to Birmingham to talk to mayor and protest leaders, state troops sent in by governor to disrupt talks
-stirred up violence, Blacks did not respond with violence until extreme violence on them led to serious black riots
-Kennedy called Federal troops to restore calm
Birmingham impact
-white businesses preferred concessions than losing money, mayor agreed to desegregation
-shops and lunch counters in Birmingham desegregated, Blacks allowed to apply for white only jobs
-many facilities still segregated and violence against Blacks continued
-led to similar protests across USA and more cities desegregated facilities
-President feared future rioting if nothing was done, so civil rights bill they were working on became more important
Washington march features
-protestors wanted to show support for new bill being passes
-would force congress and president to pass bill
-1,000 extra police and 2,000 members of national guards brought in fear of violence
-250k people took part in march for jobs and freedom
-march was peaceful, marched through the city to Lincoln Memorial, where national anthem was sung followed by prayers, musical performances and speeches, events broadcasted to the world live
Dream speech
-MLK delivered one of the best, most famous speeches during the Washington march
-referenced US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln, Bible, hymns and sermons and the American Dream
-emphasised MLK as main leader of civil rights movement
-won Nobel Peace Prize
Impact of March on Washington
-huge numbers showed supporters in civil rights, white and black
-brough huge publicity to civil rights, due to protest size and presence of many celebrities
-put pressure on politicians regarding the civil rights bill being debated in congress
-FerFixed MLK’s place as leader of the whole civil rights movement
Freedom summer features
-campaign by NAACP, CORE, SNCC to increase the Black voting rate, Mississippi was the lowest at 7%
-Blacks had to pass very difficult literacy test, those who passed were threatened with violence to prevent them from registering
-set up new party to challenge Mississippi Democratic Party (Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party)
-80k members
-MFDP ran classes to help Blacks pas voter registration tests
-opened 30 freedom schools to teach black history and politics
-SNCC brought1k volunteers to go to Mississippi to help in Freedom summer projects
-volunteers were young, white college students from rich northern families, violence against them would generate big headlines and they could afford to support themselves
Freedom summer murders features
-Attacked by KKK, black churches and homes bombed
-three campaigners (2 were white) arrested for traffic offences by a Klan member
-Klan member told others three men were in custody, but after they were released from prison, they were not seen
-6 weeks later, bodies discovered, shot and beaten to death\
-huge publicity generated from deaths,
-deaths caused divisions within civil rights, Some black activists beganto look for more radical solutions
Freedom summer impact
-failure
-only 1,600 more Blacks successfully registered to vote in Mississippi(17k tried)
-many were scared into not registering due to violence, some threatened with dismissal from work if they registered to vote
-did improve Black literacy rates
-publicity generated by murders increased support for civil rights and brough voter problems to national attention
Selma features
-Dallas County (Selma is main city) had a lower % of registered black voters than Mississippi
-Civil rights groups in Selma invited MLK and SCLC to campaign there
-there were protests and attempts to register African and Americans to vote in Selma
-led to violence with the police and many arrested and one protestor was murdered
-protest march went to Montgomery but was stopped by police, where state troops and police attacked them with tear gas, horses, clubs and electric cattle sticks
-known as ‘Bloody Sunday’, footage of Blacks being attacked was broadcasted around the world
-2nd march called off as MLK did not want confrontation
-protestors all over the USA went to Selma, determined to show their support
-Johnson used Selma march to persuade Congress for voting rights bill, and submitted a voting rights bill to Congress
-then took control of Alabama National Guard and march from Selma to Montgomery finally took place, escorted by troops
-MLK led around 25,000 people to the state capitol
Impacts of Selma
-voting rights act was passed by congress
-led to the civil rights movement splitting, many protestors including SNCC members wanted more direct confrontation with the police and questioned non-violence
-led to more militant protests in the years ahead
how was the civil rights act 1964 passed
-Lyndon Johnson used the horror of Kennedy’s assassination and other methods to persuade and bully members of Congress to support bill without amendments
-Dixiecrats managed 54 day attempt but Johnson had enough support from democrats and republicans
-signed civil rights act in 1964
civil rights act 1964 laws
-segregation and discrimination in public places banned
-voter registration tests had to be fair and the same for black and white people
-discrimination in employment banned and the Equal Opportunities Commission established to investigate discrimination in employment
-federal government could remove funding from state projects that discriminated
civil rights act 1964 impacts
-significant as it ended legal segregation
-did not actually end discrimination as it was difficult to enforce, especially in the Deep South
Voting Rights Act 1965 Laws
-set up one fair, national test for voting registration for everyone
-banned states from setting their own voting qualifications unless they were approved by the federal government
-appointed federal examiners to supervise voter registration in states
- Mississippi black voting went from 7% to 67%
Impact of the Voting Rights Act 1965
-significant, raised eligible Black voters by a lot
-Meant that issues affecting Blacks had to be considered by politicians who wanted to win their votes
-Blacks could elect representatives from their own communities at local, city and then national level
why were the Civil rights legislation passed
–attitudes of presidents- and Johnson used the horror of Kennedy’s death and other methods to bully members of Congress to support bill (civil rights)without amendments
-more people in Congress that wanted to do the right thing
-emergence of radical activists who seemed to threaten violent protest if legislation was not passed
-protests of civil rights movements
why did protests pressure Federal government to act
-protests were in large numbers, within the law, well led and in targeted areas(violent reaction)
-as a result this: often provoked violent reactions, showing this unlawful opponent, showed the massive support behind civil rights and showed issues faced by Blacks
-The effect was: increased awareness and more support for civil rights, and huge publicity within USA and internationally
