Civil Rights Flashcards
What did Plessy vs Ferguson case in 1896 determine
Supreme court upholds segregation between black and white
Meant you could segregate people in everything
21 states introduced segregation laws
Seperate but equal
What were the Jim Crow laws
In the South, Nickname given to laws that enforced segregation that covered all aspects of life
Removed protection of law to blacks
What was common in the early 20th century
Lynchings
What happened in 1865
Slavery ended and in theory black people were given equal rights (14th Amendment said that all should be treated equally in the law)
What happened in the 1896 Plessy vs Fergusson case
In 1896, Homer Plessy (black) challenged segregation on trains saying it was against the 14th Amendment. The supreme court ruled against him. Upheld Jim Crow laws.
Discrimination in the North states
Worst-paid jobs
Lived in poorest areas of towns and cities (ghettos)
Not enforced by law
Poor facilities and supplies
Discrimination in the Southern States
Segregation enforced by law (Jim Crow laws)
Seperate restaurant, cinema, schools
Buses were segregated
Facilities in black schools had less money spent on them
How did many Southern whites view black people
As inferior, lazy and unintelligent
Why was it difficult for black people to do anything about their situation in the 1950s
The police and law courts were full of racist white officials - many were even members of the infamous klu klux klan.
Black Americans were allowed to vote. But by 1956, only 20% had registered to do so. Why?
Blacks were intimidated by white gangs if they tried to register
States set unfair literacy tests to make it harder for blacks to register
Employers would threaten with the sack
KKK
The klu klux klan - were a violent group who were opposed to civil rights. They often attacked and killed black people
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
Compaigned for integration, to overthrow Plessy
Focused on fighting for civil rights in the courts
Created legal defence fund
CORE
Congress of Racial Equality
Protested against segregation
Many white members, used non-violent direct action such as sit-ins, trained not to react in face of intimidation/attack
What was one of the biggest fear of integrating schools
Mixed race children
Timeline of school desegregation in supreme court including Brown vs Topeka
1952, NAACP take 5 desegregation cases to the supreme court
NAACP argued that seperate was not equal (as said in Plessy). Against 14th ammendment.
Earl Warren replaces pro-segregation judge, as Chief Justice, Dec 1952
May 1954, Brown vs Topeka, Court ruled ‘seperate but equal’ had no place in education
May 1955, Court ruled for desegregation ‘with all deliberate speed’
3 successes and limitations of Brown vs (Borad of Education), Topeka 1954
Brown won the case
Successes: Seperate but equal had no place in education, Schools has to desegregate, Brown reversed Plessy so sparked off many more desegregation campaigns
Limitations: Set no timescale for desegregation, in ‘deep south’ became known as ‘Black Monday’ and met with extreme white backlash, integrated black children targets of threats and violence
Little Rock High school, Arkansas was about to be desegregated in 1957, how many black children attended
75 applied, 25 accepted, 9 still willing to go after threats of violence
What happened in the build up to Little Rock 1957
Orval Faubus
Governor of Arkansas, when school started on the first day senr 250 state troops to surround the school and ‘keep the peace’ stopping the black students going in
Daisy bates
Local NAACP organiser, arranged for the Black students to arrive together the next day
What happened to Elizabeth Eckford at Little Rock 1957
Missed the message by Daisy Bates to meet up so she arrived by bus, alone.
Mob of waiting white people was terrifying.
She went up to the state troops to protect her but they turned her back towards the mob that was shouting ‘lynch her, lynch her’
What was the reaction and outcome to Little Rock 1957
Publicity - pictures / TV menat that the now famous Elizabeth Eckford picture, getting child abuse went worldwide.
Eisenhower’s order - remove state troops and the nine black students attented school
Outcome - Faubus closed all schools for a year before being forced by parents to reopen, integrated.
Why was Little Rock important
Forced Eisenhower to take action
1957, First civil rights act since 1875. Set up comission to prosecute anyone who denied American citizens their rights
Attracted word-wide attention
Schools in Arkansas became integrated, better open and integrated then closed.
What usually happened on the buses in Montgomery
They were segregated as black people sat at the back and white at the front. White drivers bullied black passengers especially women
What happened when the bus company didn’t change anything in Montgomery
The WPC (Women’s political Council) called for a boycott, 90% of black people boycotted
What was the MIA and who was it’s leader
Montgomery Improvement Association - aims were to improve lives of black people in Montgomery. Set up on Dec 5 1955
Martin Luther king leader
Why was MLK a good leader for the MIA
From chicago so new to Montgomery so no friends or enemies among white officials
Clergymen so was respected and couldn’t be sacked
Well educated - campaign strategy, establish clear goals, and decide on the best means to achieve them
Non-violent - made white oppressors seem like the bad guys, gets sympathy and support
Passionate speeches - motivate people, shows he cares, encourage people
Wide-spread appeal - appeal to liberal white Americans, support from whites and blacks
Christian values - Black and Whites support him, good role model, people look up to him
How long were the buses boycotted
Over a year
What happened during the boycott
MLK’s house was bombed then he was arrested and fined for disrupting lawful business.
Browder vs Gayle trial
Supreme court said that buses should be integrated
How did some white southerners react to the boycott
WCC was Very violent and wanted to kill black people
What was the WCC
White citizens council
Why was the boycott succesful (reasons for success)
Commitment, Organisation, Publicity
Important leaders during the bus boycott
Jo Ann Robinson - president of WPC, suggested boycott, dropped off flyers, writing about bus problems for years
E.D Nixon - NAACP member, Who Rosa called when arrested, helped set up boycott
Ralph David Abernathy - NAACP member, woroed with MLK and took over MIA when king left Montgomery
3 positive and 3 negative consequences of bus boycott
Positives: Buses were desegregated, show civil rights campaigns could attract support, brought MLK into spotlight
Negatives: Houses of MIA leaders firebombed, white backlash, shots fired at black people riding buses
What was the Greensboro sit-in
Feb 1st 1960 - 4 students sit in at woolworths lunch counter (not allowed)
Next few days - next day 25 students, feb 4th 300 students
Next few weeks - spread to other Greensboro segregated luch counters, thousands took part and made national news
What was the role of CORE and SCLC in the Greensboro sit-in
Both CORE and SCLC were asked to send people to train students in non-violent protest tactics. Ella Baker (SCLC) invited students to protest accross the South.
What organisation was created during the Greensboro sit-in
SNCC (student non-violent coordinating commitee) - aim of using non-violent protest to campaign for civil rights. Build on non-violent principles developed by CORE and MLK.
Why was Greensboro sit-in so important
Mixed race groups in their protests, young people inspired, some white southernors joined in
Favourable news coverage showed both white and black support
What was the aim of the freedom rides
CORE activits to ride on buses from the North to deep South to test segregation. They aimed to spark a crisis and worldwide publicity to force change
What happened when the Freedom Rides set off
4 may 1961 two buses left Washington for Birmingham, Alabama. Georgia governor urged calm, so got to Alambama with very little violence
Politicians in Alabama and Mississippi opposed it. Southern press united against them and northern press said they were looking for trouble
KKK and WCC members swore to stop them
What happened to the first freedom riders bus
Reached Anniston, Alabama and met with over 100 KKK members, surrounded it, slashed tyres and smashed windows
Slashed Tyres burst outside the city and firebomb thrown through window
They all escaped but were beaten up.
ACMHR brought them to Birmingham airport.
What happened to second freedom rider bus
Not heard what happened
Arrived in Anniston they were pulled off and beaten
They got back on and drove to Birmingham where they were beaten up again
Eventually ACMHR got the ‘riders’ to the airport
Consequences of freedom rides
Nov 1st, federal government said federal officers would enforce desegregation if states didn’t obey. Southern states began desegregating bus facilities and the freedom ride ended. Over 60 freedom rides took place over that summer
What lead to the events in Birmingham, April 1963
Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor (police chief) used attack dogs against protestors
Martin Luther King arrested and he wrote a passionate letter from prison
Lead to another march which caused violence
What happened in Birmingham, Alabama in April 1963
Civil right campaign ‘C’ (confrontation) began
There were: arrests; water cannons; dogs and baton charges were used to disperse the marcher.
Arrests reached 500 a day, but was shown on television and many sickened by violence
