civil rights Flashcards
two impacts of Brown v Topeka
Revival of the KKK
Many casual racists became more racist as many liked the segregated facilities around town, and their outrage towards the ruling gave the KKK a chance to recruit more members.
Long term impacts - set a new legal precedent
set a new legal precedent and showed the people that the government had the power to change the system.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to deem segregated schools unconstitutional showed the people that the government was finally willing to support African American rights.
media coverage and publicity for the case brought attention to the NAACP and their later works as well as increased awareness of African American civil rights.
broke the previous precedent of Plessy vs Ferguson, and after decades, it was the cornerstone for fully integrated schools in America.
two impacts of Emmett Till’s death
Through the decision of having an open casket to show the media the 14-year-old boy’s mutilated figure after being killed by Roy Bryant, many white Americans in the North saw for the first time the extreme racism that African Americans were suffering, bringing about increased awareness for the problems that they faced.
it exposed to the media the cruel reality that many black citizens faced. The murderers not being acquitted for the crime caused widespread outrage.
Catalysed the Civil Rights Movement
Motivated many African Americans to take a more active role to bring change
Many of the same age as Till went to join huge civil rights protests of the 1960s
The death of Till created the atmosphere for the civil rights movement to thrive.
Rosa Parks herself stated that she felt inspired by Emmett Till to refuse to give her seat that day, showing how the event acted as a catalyst for later civil rights movements.
two impacts of the bus boycott
Buses were integrated, first come first serve basis
Due to the bus company not wanting to make any more concessions, they gave in to the demands of the MIA
Bus passengers no longer ordered African Americans to make room for white passengers
buses began to desegregate, which further led to the integration of public facilities.
gave a new direction for the African American civil rights movement, as campaigners found a new tactic of nonviolent direct action that brought success.
Provided an example of a form of protest that worked
led to numerous successful civil rights campaigns in the 1960s, like the sit-ins, freedom rides and the peace marches.
Showed that if large numbers took direct action, it brought change, demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violence
two impacts of the little rock nine
The only occasion where the president directly intervened to enforce Supreme Court decision
= showed federal government could successfully overrule state governments
Supreme Court got involved, forced Faubus to reopen schools
Eventually led to the Civil Rights Act in 1964
Showed civil rights campaigners the importance of media coverage
Millions of US citizens saw examples of extreme racism, publicity was international → made the country look hypocritical for criticising other countries
demonstrated to civil rights campaigners that gaining publicity and widespread attention for events was a good way to increase support for the civil rights movement
two impacts of the freedom rides
Huge publicity
Examples of cruelty in Anniston Fire Bombing
14 May - Anniston Fire Bombing
Windows, sides were smashed, tyres were damaged
Generated sympathy, sparked outrage
Achieved aim, placed pressure on the government
Through media publicity, federal government was embarrassed by what the world was seeing
Threatened to send US marshals to enforce desegregation of interstate buses, eventually led to states beginning to integrate facilities
Showed protestors that movements had the power to do so, led to other successful movements
two impacts of sit ins
Indicated success, change in direction in tactics of civil rights protestors, evolved forms of the civil rights movement
Form of nonviolent direct action, more confrontational, applied across wide range of different facilities
Set examples for further movements
First truly mass protest, first protest with significant number of white people
Saw beginning of new civil rights organisations specifically aimed at students
Immediate - Businesses suffered two fold, sold far fewer lunches as there were fewer seats available for white customers
Most (eg. Woolworth’s) desegregated eating facilities after sit ins
Over 120 towns and cities had desegregated lunch counters
generated huge publicity, sight of them attacked without retaliating attracted sympathy
President Eisenhower - stated he was deeply sympathetic with the efforts of any group to enjoy the rights of equality
Further desegregation of public facilities
two impacts of the Meredith case
Showed president would take direct action to enforce Supreme Court rulings
Forced President Kennedy to act, ordered those obstructed the law to desist, riots, 2000 troops were sent in by the president
Significant as it showed that the system was racist, they had the power to change and stop discrimination but they did not
African American students were rarely prevented from attending integrated universities by state or university authorities
two impacts of birmingham protests
Large impact on the federal government
Kennedy sent negotiator to help work out agreement, state troops were sent to disrupt talks, caused more violence which included more bombings of African American homes and businesses
President wanted to avoid similar scenes, begun working on civil rights bill, Birmingham gave it more importance
Publicity = sympathy
2nd May = children’s march, used powerful hoses
Television footage, photographs of young people being attacked by dogs and fire hoses were shown in the world
Outrage, thinking that America was being hypocritical
two impacts of the march on washington
Brought huge publicity to the cause,
led to presence of many celebrities ( Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando) = able to bring further support
The March was the largest political gathering, with over 250,000 people, both African American and white (60,000) marching peacefully through the city.
= The large number of people taking part showed that civil rights was supported by many, and observers were impressed by the organisation of such a large and non-violent event, leading to an increase in supporters for the movement.
Put pressure on politicians, took place when civil rights bill was being debated
Before the protest, governors were debating on whether the Bill should be passed.
After march ended, civil rights leaders met President Kennedy, assured it was committed to making the civil rights bill happen
After Kennedy’s assassination, his successors felt the pressure to succeed and appeal to the African American population, which ended the stalemate of the enabling of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
two impacts of the mississippi freedom summers
Aimed to increase voter registration
Only 1600 more African Americans successfully registered to vote in Mississippi
Most failed to register though the teaching they had received enabled them to pass
Many were frightened into not registering
Some were physically attacked
Started to cause divisions within civil right groups
Some wanted to look for more radical solutions → angered by the murders
Others wanted to keep peace
two impacts of the selma march
Led them to pass Voting Rights Act
Johnson submitted voting rights bill to Congress, Martin Luther King led 25,000 people to the state capital
Placed pressure for fed gov to act due to publicity, outrage of police brutality
Civil rights movement began to split
SNCC = wanted to directly confront police, began to question non-violence as a strategy
State troops, police attacked with tear gas, horses, clubs, electric cattle sticks
Martin Luther was adamant about keeping non-violent stance
= lead to more militant protests in the years ahead
two impacts of the civil rights act
immediate effect - established a legal framework for a more just and inclusive American society.
showed that the government had acknowledged the need for reform to include African American rights, and showed that the federal government had the power to end legal segregation.
seen through the Act banning discrimination in employment as well as segregation of public activities
Additionally, the act also paved the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which meant that African Americans could finally have a say in their government.
failure to be immediately implemented and established, this led to limited social reform, resulting in a new wave of protest.
With the lack of white people willing to cooperate with the Act, this led to the formation of the Black Power movement and the formation of the Black Panthers, who took a more aggressive stance and created a divide within the civil rights movement.
Moreover, African Americans were not the only ones who felt the need for further reform, but other marginalised groups also organised new movements to assert their rights
ultimately led to the creation of the Civil Rights Act 1968
two impacts of the voting rights act
Immediate - limited
Increase in number of African Americans registered to vote
1964 - 1968
Alabama - 19.3 → 61.3
Mississippi - 6.7 → 67.5
Voting Rights Act set up a national literacy test, and due to previous literacy discrimination, not given full right to vote, led to creation of Black Power movement
Long term - African Americans had a larger say in the government
Meant African Americans could gradually elect representatives from own communities at local, city, national level
Issues which affected African Americans had to be considered by politicians who wanted to win their votes
two impacts of black power
Positive
Inspired many projects aimed to improve living conditions, formation of groups
Formation of groups like Black Panthers
Work to improve living standards
Self policing
Focus on economic, social problems brought increased awareness
Continued work of Malcolm X, led to more African-Americans taking pride of their culture and heritage
Negative
Terrified many white people - caused negative connotations of African Americans as violent
Blamed for increase in brutality towards activists
Defined the split in movement
Turned into the radialization of SNCC
IMPACTS OF RACE RIOTS
Rioting lost sympathy of some white supporters of civil rights, made some more afraid
Due to exaggerated reporting of the riots by the media
Immediate - Money was given by Federal government to improve conditions in the ghettos, often spent on weapons and training for police to deal with riots
Helped to change focus of some civil rights campaigners to social, economic problems, rioting widened area of civil rights campaigns
