2.2: Peaceful protests and their impact, 1963-65 Flashcards
Events in Birmingham 1963
MLK and SCLC led the campaign in Birmingham it was chosen because:
It was completley segregated
Local police chief ‘Bull’ Connor had a reputation of being provoked into violence
Black Americans had been attacked there
Many peaceful protest methods wre used (boycotts/sit-ins). Many arrests took place. When the jails were full Connor ordered use of water cannond and police dogs. This response was widely criticised.
What happened during the March on Washington / when was it
August 1963- MLK organised a march of protestors across the United States. The march was for ‘Jobs and Freedom’.
More than 250,000 people took part. 40,000 of these were white
The march was peaceful and broadcasted on television worldwide
king made his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech
What happened during the Freedom Summer/ when was it
In 1964 in Mississippi, SNCC and CORE set up the ‘freedom Summer’. A thousand volunteers went to Mississippi to help boost voter registration.
Many volunteers were white college students. This prohibited the use of violence ( newsworthy).
Voter registration classes taught black Americans how to pass the test to register to vote
Out of 17,000 black Americans 1,600 successful
The KKk retaliated through burning crosses/churches/homes
What were the Mississippi murders
Three activists (Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney) were killed by a Klan lynch mob in Mississippi.
CORE and SNCC members tried to find the bodies. They were eventually discovered along with eight further victims.
When were the Mississippi murders
21 June 1964
What did the Mississippi murders show
Mississippi murders showed the levels of hatred and violence Klan members used to stop civil rights.
What has Kennedy done for the civil rights movement
Selected black people for high-level jobs (Thurgood Marshall- who argued that Brown V topeka case)
Back thr introduction of new civil right laws
Sent federal troops to University of Mississippi to protect James Meredith
Sent US marshals to protect Freedom Riders
What has Johnson done for the civil rights movement
Appoint black Americans for high-level jobs
Urged Southern politicians to support 1964 Civil rights Bill
Supported the 1964 Civil rights acts and 1965 Voting Rights Act
Intervened to escort protestirs marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965
What were the 1964 civil rights acts
New power forced school to desegrgate
Governements stooped federal funding of state projects that promoted inequality
No discrimination in voter registration tests
Banned disceimination in public spaces and intersate businesses.
Banned employment discrimination in larger businesses
Set up Equal Employment Opportunities Commision to combat work discrimination
What was the 1965 voting rights act
Johnson was influencd through the Selma campaign intoduced and prasied the courage of activists:
He introduced a standard voting registration voting process across the USA,controlled by the federal governement
States could introduce new voting rules onky if the federal government agreed
Federal officials would take over voter registration in states where less than 50% of qualified voters failed registration.
Events of the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965
Early 1965 SCLC and King campaigned for voting rights in Selma to support President Johnsons Voting Rights Act. Some held protests aginst voter registration tests. During the protests violence broke out with the police and a protester was killed.
On 7 March 600 people marched from Selma to Montgomery to publicise the right of black Americans to vote. State troops used tear gas, cattle prods and clubs. This spread through media worldwide.
9 March:
Second attempt unsuccessful. Following the march a white activist was murdered. President Johnson intervened placing Alabama state national guard under federal control to the marchers.
21-24 March:
Third and final march took place with 25,000 protestors. It concluded on the 25 March
Significance of Selma to Montgomery march
Violence broke out between the police and the actvists and a protestor was killed- caused outrage and led to sympathy for activists.
9 March a locsl white group murdered a white civil rights activust- caused public outrage
President Johnson intervened , plaving national guard under federal control to the marchers- shows the support for the civil rights movement
When were the Selma to Montgonery march
Early 1965
Ended 25 March 1965
