An Era of Change Flashcards
Identify the key developments that led to the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement.
- After World War II, Black Americans were frustrated that their contributions to the war (such as the Double V Campaign) did not improve their conditions.
- The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education and murder of Emmett Till, led to significant growth within the movement to ensure changes would occur.
Who was Emmett Till?
- Chicago teenager who was murdered by two white men in Mississippi in 1955.
- National media coverage of his death greatly contributed to the early growth of the Civil Rights Movement.
What was the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education case?
- 1954 Supreme Court case brought by the NAACP to challenge segregation in the American schools, previously permitted by the Plessy v. Ferguson “separate but equal” rule.
- The unanimous decision in this case helped spark the trend towards eliminating segregation in the US.
Identify the goals Civil Rights leaders wanted to achieve during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement.
Early in the Civil Rights Movement, civil rights leaders were primarily focused on:
* Ending segregation in all forms.
* Eliminating the threat of racial violence.
Identify key events that shaped the early years of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
- Little Rock Crisis (1957)
- Sit In Movement (1960)
What happened during the Little Rock Crisis?
- A group of students (the Little Rock Nine) were attempting to integrate Little Rock Central HS in Arkansas; only to be met with angry white mobs and death threats.
- President Eisenhower was forced to send troops to escort and protect the students throughout the school year.
What happened during the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
- After Rosa Parks was arrested for disobeying segregation rules in Montgomery, AL, civil rights leaders organized a boycott of local bus systems.
- The boycott lasted 381 days, before the city ended its segregation rules.
What happened during the Sit-In Movement?
- Starting in Greensboro, NC, a group of four college students peacefully protested segregation rules at their local lunch counters.
- The students were brutally attacked– but inspired students at other universities to challenge segregation rules in their own communities.
Describe the role the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC played in the Civil Rights Movement.
NAACP: Largest and oldest civil rights organization in the US; focused on ending segregation by legal challenges in the courts.
SCLC: MLK’s organization that organization nonviolent protests across the country.
SNCC: Student led organization started as a reuslt of the sit-in movement; also organized peaceful protests to encourage positive changes.
How did the following individuals participate in the Civil Rights Movement?
* James Lawson
* John Lewis
* Diane Nash
James Lawson: Nonviolent activist that helped train students within the sit-in movement out of Nashville, TN.
John Lewis: Prominent activist who helped lead the SNCC and participated in many major nonviolent civil rights protests; youngest speaker at the March on Washington.
Diane Nash: Another student leader that was active within the civil rights movement; among the most prominent young female activists in the movement.
Explain how Martin Luther King Jr’s ideas and philosophies shaped the Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther King Jr. shaped his activism around two core ideas:
* Civil Disobedience: Identifying unfair laws within society- and disobeying those laws; such as organizing a sit-in to protest segregation.
* Non-Violence: Executing such protests peacefully; even when attacked.
Describe how southern officials and society responded to the Civil Rights Movement.
- Southern officials encouraged “massive retaliation” toward the civil rights movement; many law enforcement officers and politicians attacked and blocked the efforts of civil rights activists.
- Average citizens also resisted change, white mobs gathered at schools, the KKK attacked activists, and lynchings continued to target Black Americans.
Describe the role young people played in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Many young people were incredibly active within the movement integrating schools and participating in protests- like the sit-in movement and the Birmingham Campaign.
- Students, like John Lewis and Diane Nash, were active in forming the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Describe the historical significance of the Freedom Rides.
- A series of nonviolent civil rights protests against segregation along interstate transportation routes over the course of several months in 1961.
- The Freedom Riders were violently attacked by the KKK and law enforcement along the way- with one of their busses being firebombed in Alabama- before the Freedom Riders were arrested for “disturbing the peace” in Mississippi.
Describe the historical significance of the Birmingham Campaign
- One of the largest nonviolent campaigns organized by MLK Jr.; including boycotts and marches to protest segregation and racial violence in Birmingham, AL.
- Law enforcement brutally attacked protesters using fire hoses and police dogs– young children were arrested for their involvement in this nonviolent protest.
Describe the historical significance of the March on Washington.
- Largest peaceful protest during the Civil Rights Movement to encourage the government to pass legislation; featuring MLK Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
- Despite initial concerns that the protest would face resistance- as other events had experienced- the event was overwhelmingly peaceful and celebratory.
Evaluate the impact the media had on the way Americans learned about and viewed the Civil Rights Movement
- Media coverage of the violence targeting peaceful protesters increased public awareness of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Images of Emmett Till and other vioent acts targeting Black Americans led to increased support for the movement.
Explain how President Kennedy and the federal government changed their response to the Civil Rights Movement from 1960 to 1963.
- Despite early reluctance to support the movement while he dealt with foreign policy issues– JFK increased his support of the movement over time.
- JFK sent troops to protect protesters, gave the first tv address about civil rights by a US president, promoted the passage of legislation by Congress to address civil rights.
What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
- Comprehensive civil rights legislation originally suggested by President Kennedy, but signed by President Johnson after JFK’s assassination.
- Provided federal government measures to bring an end to segregation and encouraged improved civil rights in the United States.
Describe how and why Civil Rights activists worked to secure Black voting rights during the Civil Rights Movement.
How: Civil rights leaders organized voter registration drives and nonviolent marches (like the Freedom Summer and Selma Campaign) to encourage the elimination of voting restrictions for Black Americans.
Why: Many Black Americans 15th Amendent rights were limited by state laws- such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and the Grandfather Clause- or threats of violence.
What was the historical significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
- Federal legislation that addressed the issue of voting restrictions in the United States.
- Proposed and signed by President Johnson; this policy ended the use of literacy tests and required federal oversite in locations known to restrict Black voters– this led to a significant increase in Black voting immediately.
Explain how and why the Civil Rights Movement changed during the late 1960s.
How: Many new leaders and new ideas within the movement (such as: self-defense when attacked and the Black Power Movement)
Why: Many young civil rights leaders felt that MLK Jr’s ideas of nonviolence were ineffective and too slow. They were tired of being attacked and not being able to protect themselves.
Identify key figures who helped shape the Civil Rights Movement during the second half of the 1960s.
- Malcolm X
- Stokely Charmichael
- Black Panther Party
Describe how Martin Luther King Jr’s death impacted the Civil Rights Movement.
- After Martin Luther King Jr’s death in April 1968, some Americans remained dedicated to his nonviolence cause in honor of him– however, many cities erupted in riots due to their anger about his death.
- The nonviolent movement significantly struggled to continue following King’s death.