Chapter 11 Selma Flashcards
Summarize Chapter 11: Selma.
Chapter 11 focuses on the Selma voting rights campaign, particularly the events of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965. John Lewis, leading a peaceful march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, was brutally attacked by law enforcement. The chapter highlights the national outrage that followed, the subsequent marches, and the pivotal role these events played in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
What was the goal of the Selma campaign?
The Selma campaign aimed to secure voting rights for Black Americans by highlighting the systemic disenfranchisement and violence they faced in Alabama and across the South.
What happened on “Bloody Sunday”?
On “Bloody Sunday,” peaceful protesters, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams, were violently attacked by state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge as they marched from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting right
How was John Lewis personally affected by “Bloody Sunday”?
Lewis was severely beaten, suffering a skull fracture, but his commitment to nonviolence and the movement only deepened after the attack.
What role did the media play in the events of Selma?
The media broadcast the brutality of “Bloody Sunday” to a national audience, shocking the conscience of the nation and garnering widespread support for voting rights legislation.
What were the outcomes of the Selma marches?
The marches galvanized public and political support, directly leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory practices that disenfranchised Black voters.
How did the federal government respond to the violence in Selma?
President Lyndon B. Johnson condemned the violence, federalized the Alabama National Guard, and eventually introduced and supported the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
What was the significance of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches?
These marches symbolized the struggle for voting rights and demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest to challenge systemic racism and bring about legislative change.
How did John Lewis’s leadership during the Selma campaign shape his legacy?
Lewis’s courage and resolve during the Selma marches cemented his reputation as a steadfast leader in the civil rights movement and a symbol of moral leadership.
What is the enduring legacy of Selma in the civil rights movement?
Selma remains a powerful symbol of the fight for voting rights, reminding future generations of the sacrifices made to achieve equality and the ongoing need to protect those rights.
