Americas Civil Rights Flashcards
Brown v board of Topeka
1954- Linda brown forced to go to school 20 blocks away from her home.
Father said better if she could attend a close white school.
After three years segregation was made illegal.
End to the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’
Sweat v painter
1950
Challenges segregation issues in law school.
Herman sweatt wanted to attend law school.
Case taken to supreme court
Desegregated.
What happened to AA’s in America in between 1945-54?
More middle class black people in America Better understanding. Loads more cases to Supreme Court
What did the white middle class of south set up?
A white citizens council.
For segregation in school
Money fund for white state schools.
Campaigned elections for segragation
How many people were in the white citizens council?
1950-250,000 joined
Harry F.Byrd?
101 southern congressmen.
For the doctrine of separate but equal.
Brown 2
De Jude victory little, de facto change.
‘With all deliberate speed’
Attitudes to desegregation were to vague and slow.
1955
Failures of Brown 2nds case
750/6,300 had desegregated.
3% black people in mixed schools.
Black people in segregated school?
1958- 58%
Montgomery bus boycott
1955-56- black had to give up seats for white people. Front for white back for black.
Rosa parks
1 December 1955- didn’t give up seat for a white person
Led to NAACP legal case of challenging segregation
How buses boycotted whilst Montgomery bus boycott?
85% there was also car pooling.
Browder v Gayle?
1956 segregation of buses took place.
Little rock nine
1957- Segregation in Southern states
9 students enrolled in little rock high school-all white
Entry was opposed by Orval fawbus
National guard to prevent entry
3rd sep- No exception at all
Then they successfully got in by military help and Eisenhower’s help. Then graduated.
Greensboro sit-ins?
1960
Four local student entered Woolworth’s and sat only at the WHITE ONLY counter
How many people did a sit in in 1961?
70,000 black and White took part for segregation in public places.
Significance of sit ins.
Brought coverage in media.
Civil rights campaigns spread quickly
Sit ins attacked all aspects of southern segregation.economical power of black people.
Desegregated public places?
1961- 810 towns desegregated public places.
Freedom rides?
1961-interstate travelling from Washington DC to New Orleans
By CORE
Involved MLK and Robert kennedy.
Albany movement?
1961-62
Chief Laurie Pritchett discovered secrets about media attention and denied it.
Police to be kind to protestors, nor racist violence.
KING ARRESTED.
James Meredith and university of Mississippi?
First black student in uni of Mississippi
Denied access by Ross Barnett
Kennedy and Supreme Court supported Meredith and Kennedy told Ross to back down.
No protection provided by Ross so James Meredith was facing a mob of violent white protestors.-sent in troops.
Protestors reacted violently killing two people
BUT MEREDITH GRADUATED IN 1963
The Birmingham campaign.
Eugene ‘bull’ Connor expected to react violently as he did in gap freedom rides. Good for media.
Birmingham worst Involved in segregation. No black officers,bus drivers,fire fighters or bank workers.
1963
How many registered to vote in Birmingham Alabama?
10% of Birmingham black population registered to vote
Who set up the Birmingham campaign?
SCLC.
What goals did the Birmingham campaign have?
Desegragation of city’s major shopping areas,administrative buildings,schools and public parks.
End discrimination in employment.
How did Eugene ‘bull’ Connor respond to the Birmingham campaign 1963?
Took legal action- court injunctions
High profile campaigners to avoid negative headlines
King jailed! For commiting ‘illegal’ act
‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’- not released till june.
Who led the Birmingham campaign 1963?
James Bevel- did this because police would have more shame and it wouldn’t have an affect on financial state of families.
How many black children were imprisoned whilst the Birmingham campaign?
1300
5th May - Decisions?
Reforms on protesters release
Large department stores desegregated
Discrimination in employment had to end.
REASON WAS VIOLENCE AND UNJUST IN BIRMINGHAM CAMPAIGN.3rd May
The March on Washington
1963- Pressure on Congress and President to pass a Civil rights bill.
How many white protesters in March on Washington?
20% showing unity between black and white community.
Mississippi Freedom Summer
1964
Target of the Mississippi freedom summer?
Fix voter registration of black majority.
Set up 30 freedom schools across Mississippi teaching about civil rights.
Voter registration in Mississippi in 1962?
6.2% adults registered to vote because of state laws.
How many white protesters participated in Mississippi freedom summer campaign for voter registration?
800 volunteers.
How many schools did SNCC AND CORE form in Mississippi?
30 ‘Freedom schools’
Who was affected by KKK?
Put up tremendous resistance to changes from Mississippi freedom summer.
30 houses of the black people and 37 churches firebombed
80 beatings and 35 shootings took place.
How many succeeded in voting in Mississippi after campaign?
1600 AA’s
Selma campaign
1965- marked tenth anniversary and involved a 50 mile march. SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. 3 attempts.
Aim of Selma campaign?
To change registration of vote
But to gain a reaction and media attention