A DIVIDED UNION. CIVIL RIGHTS USA 1945-74 Flashcards
civil rights 1950s
Why were African Americans still treated like second class citizens by 1950?
the following amendments to the constitution granted African Americans freedom and the right to vote
1865 13th amendment - Abe Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation of 1863 FREED SLAVES
1868 14th amendment = citizenship
1870 15th amendment = right to vote
BUT there was racial discrimination esp in the south where they resented slave freedom. they informed segregation laws in housing education and travel
south prevented them voting - made them pass literary test
they had ‘grandfather clause’ where they had to prove G father was born in USA 4 generations ago
segregation was legal in USA
What were Jim Crow laws
state and local laws in the south which enforced racial segregation
Why did the south resent the north
South were defeated by north in civil war - ended 1865
how was segregation confirmed in 1896?
Through the Plessy v Fergusson case where Supreme Court ruled that a ‘separate but equal’ doctrine was constitutional
Given some examples of discrimination against African Americans at this time
families terrorised by flu klux klan
lynchings - beaten and hanged
churches set on fire
What was the flu klux klan
A white supremacist org founded in 1866/7 in Tennessee
what was NAACP
National association for the advancement of coloured people
founded 1906
WEB du bois
they made legal challenges against lynching - but most of the juries were all white and murderers were acquitted
what was the Harlem renaissance
in 1920s- plethora of black culture , music and fashion. there were more university educated blacks but they still suffered discrimination
what did the Double v campaign stand for
victory at abroad - defeating nazism and fascism in Europe
history at home at home
what was CORE
Congress for Racial Equality in 1942
randolph a trade union leader organised a march in Washington in 1942 demanding equal rights
gov permitted African Americans to serve in airforce - thought discrimination cont due to segregation
Why was there a case involving the brown family in 1951?
Linda Brown was a 9 year old who’s parents applied for summer elementary school in Topeka Kansas
they wanted a school close to home rather than travelling far to an all black one
NAACP represented brown family and case reached Supreme Court
17 may 1954 Chief Justice Earl warren ruled the separate but equal doctrine was unconstitutional
Why was the Brown families case important
9 Supreme Court justices decisions were unanimous
it showed the highest courts attitude to race relations becoming liberal
warren explained that segregation created a feeling of inferiority amoungst black pupils and he ordered southern states to desegregate ‘ at the earliest possible spend’
IMPACT segregation made illegal
ruling empowered other civil rights activists
landmark ruling
What were the white citizens council
they were in the Deep South where most white Americans were incensed at the brown ruling. The first council was set up in Mississippi
the resisted desegregation of schools through petitions and protests and blocked African American pupils from entering. many WCC members joined KKK
over the next 2 years southern states passed 450 laws preventing brown decision being enforced
What was the impact of the Emmet Till murder
He was a 14 year old from Chicago who attended a segregated school in the north.
sumner 1955 travelled to Mississippi to south with relatives
he was dared to go into a grocery shop owned by white family
Carolyn Bryant claimed he flirted- his friend said he whistled
28th aug 1955 he was taken from his uncles house middle of night by Roy Bryant and brother in law and beaten shot in head
thrown in river and body found 31 aug
= highlighted racial discrimination
beaten so badly facial features unrecognisable
all white jury found Bryant not guilty
why was the nation shocked by Emmit till murder?
2 white adults had beaten to death a child
newspapers published his face
African Americans sickened by barbarity
Rosa parks said his death was the catalyst for her stand against racism
