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Civil Rights Flashcards

1
Q

What was the Supreme courts ruling after plessy vs Ferguson? This became the ……. … ….. doctrine

A

It said that if the conditions for blacks and whites were equal, then it was constitutional

Separate but equal

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2
Q

How much did the government spend on white only schools compared to black only schools?

A

They spent three times as much on white schools

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3
Q

What three events somewhat removed segregation in education?

A

-brown vs Topeka
-little rock
-James Meredith

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4
Q

Why did brown vs Topeka happen?

A

Linda Browns parents wanted her to go to a neighbourhood school rather than a black school further away

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5
Q

Brown vs Topeka: Who presented evidence to the Supreme Court about why segregated schools created low self esteem and mental health issues?

A

Lawyers from the NAACP led by Thurgood Marshall

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6
Q

Brown vs Topeka: when was Chief Justice Warren’s ruling after being presented with the evidence from the NAACP and what was it?

A

-it took 18 months
-he said “separate educational facilities are inherently inequal”

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7
Q

Brown vs Topeka: What was the problem with the judgement made by Supreme Court about education?

A

They didn’t specify how integration should be carried out. Just that it should happen at the “earliest possible speed”

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8
Q

Brown vs Topeka: after the ruling some areas began do desegregate - how many black children were attending formerly white schools in 1957?

A

300,000

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9
Q

Brown vs Topeka: despite some black children attending mixed schools, how many black children were still attending Jim Crow schools in 1957?

A

2.4 million

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10
Q

Brown vs Topeka: how many senators and congressmen from the southern states signed a manifesto that opposed intergration in education after the ruling ?

A

100

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11
Q

Brown vs Topeka: what negative thing happened for two years after this case?

A

More than 450 laws were passed that were aimed at preventing the brown decision from being enforced and President Eisenhower did little to encourage intergration

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12
Q

After the Brown vs Topeka decision, Little Rock High School……

A

Decided to allow nine black students to enrol

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13
Q

What happened when the Little Rock Nine, led by Elizabeth Eckford, tried to enter school on 3rd September 1957?

A

They were prevented by the state governor, Orval Faubus, who ordered national guardsmen to block their entry

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14
Q

What was Faubus’ reasoning behind blocking the Little Rock nine’s entry from school?

A

He said there would be public disorder if black students tried to enrol

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15
Q

Little Rock Nine: what happened on the fourth of September?

A

-the national guard was removed by the order or Faubus so the students entered while being heckled by a white crowd
-at midday the students went home under police supervision becuase it was unsafe for them
-this was covered by press and television

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16
Q

What was President Eisenhower’s reaction to the events at Little Rock?

A

-he sent the 101st Airbourne division consisting of over 1,000 federal troops to Little Rock to protect the students for the rest of the school year
-each student was assigned a personal guard from the 101st who followed them around school
-the 101st patrolled outside the school and escorted the students in

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17
Q

Little Rock: what did Faubus do despite the President’s intervention?

A

He closed all Arkansas schools the following year to prevent intergration - they reopened in 1959 following a Supreme Court ruling that said schools must integrate

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18
Q

What was the significance of Little Rock?

A

-the issue of civil rights was now at the heart of American politics
-many citizens saw the racial hatred that existed in the southern states
-demonstrated that states would be overruled by the federal government when necessary

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19
Q

When did the Supreme Court uphold that Mississippi university had to accept James Meredith?

A

1962

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20
Q

How did Kennedy aid James Meredith in his pursuit to attend university?

A

-sent 320 federal marshals to escort him onto campus

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21
Q

What happened when James Meredith attended university? What was Kennedy’s reaction to this?

A

There were riots in which:
-two people were killed
-166 Marshals and 210 demonstrators were injured

Kennedy sent 2,000 troops to restore order and 300 soldiers had to remain on campus until he finished his degree three years later

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22
Q

When and what did Rosa Parks do that sparked the Montgomery bus boycott?

A

-1955
-refused to give up her seat when law stated that black people had to give up their seats for white people if the bus was full
-Parks was arrested

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23
Q

Who was Jo Ann Robinson?

A

She led a group of students in printing leaflets and encouraging the bus boycott

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24
Q

What was the MIA? Who was chosen to be their leader and why?

A

-the Montgomery Imrpovement Association
-Martian Luther King Jr because because he was new to Montgomery so the authorities knew little of him

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25
What happened during the bus boycott?
-many Montgomery citizens walked to work causing the bus companies to lose money -those boycotting were helped by black taxi companies and as it progressed churches bought cars for people -however this caused problems because when they were waiting for lifts, they would be harassed by police who said they wanted to "prevent crowds" and many drivers were arrested for minor traffic violations
26
When did the bus boycott end and why?
-December 1956 -the Supreme Court upheld the federal courts decision that segregation was unconstitutional -King and Abernathy travelled on a segregated bus
27
What was the importance of the bus boycott?
-showed that unity and solidarity would win -showed the benefits of using a peaceful approach: brought King's philosophy to the fore -showed the economic power of the black community when the busses experienced economic difficulty
28
Describe the events of the Greensboro sit ins
-in February 1960, 4 back students decided to sit at a white-only lunch counter in a store in Greensboro -on being refused, they sat there until the shop shut -the next day there were 27 more black students sat at the counter -by the fifth day there were 300 black students sat at the counter -the shop agreed to make a few concessions -some students were arrested for trespassing -all the students immediately boycotted any shop in Greensboro that had segregated lunch counters -sales immediately dropped and eventually segregation ended
29
What did sit-ins lead to?
The technique was used to allow black people to use other public facilities like movie theatres This also led to what became known as freedom rides
30
Why were the freedom rides set up?
CORE wanted to test how well the supreme courts decision that all busses and bus terminals should be integrated was being carried out
31
Describe the first of the freedom rides?
-May 1961 -James Farmer and 12 volunteers left Washington by bus to travel to New Orleans -it was fine until they reached Anniston, Alabama and a bus was attacked and burnt -in Montgomery white racists beat several freedom riders -in Jackson, freedom riders were arrested
32
Who was James Farmer?
The national director of CORE
33
What happened to the 27 freedom riders from the SNCC and SNLC who sat in the white only section of a bus station in Jackson, Mississippi?
They were jailed 67 days
34
What happened as a result of the freedom riders?
-In September 1961 the interstate commerce commission issued a regulation that ended racial segregation in bus terminals
35
what happened in Malcom X's childood that caused his white-hatred?
-white supremicists killed his father and destroyed his home -his mother went to a mental hospital becuase of this and Malcom and his siblings were orphaned -he was told by a white teacher that his dreams were unrealistic
36
what was the group that never suppourted King's ideas that Malcom became a part of? what did its suppourters belive in?
-the nation of islam -beleived in speratism and changed their slave surnames to 'X'
37
what changed with Malcom X after his pilagramadge to Mecca?
-prior to this trip, he felt that violence could be justified if it was done out of self defence and as a means to secure a seperate black nation -after he saw muslims of different races interacting as equals, he believed that islam could be the means by which racial problems could be overcome
38
what organisations/people were formed off the back of Malcom X's views?
-black power -black panthers -Stokely Carmichael
39
who did Malcom X set up education and social programmes for?
black youth living in ghettos
40
why did many members of mainstream civil rights groups not like the nation of islam?
they belived it promoted a "white hatred doctrine" that was as dangerous as any white supremacist group
41
what did SNCC and Carmichael belive/want?
they wanted black americans to take responsibility for their lives and reject white help they wanted black americans to create their own polictical force so they wouldnt have to rely on organisations like the NAACP wanted black americans to have pride in their African heritage - black power
42
what did Carmichael become a part of when he left SNCC?
the black panthers
43
why did Carmichael attract criticism?
becuase of his agressive atittude and was attacked when he denounced the involvement of USA in the Vietnam War
44
what organisation did King set up that promoted the ideas of non-voilent protest?
the SCLC (southern christian leadership conference)
45
what was one of the main projects of the SLCL? did they succeed?
tried to increase the number of black voters with the 'Crusade for Citizenship" this failed as it did not win suppourt from other civil rights groups and it was too ambitious to enfranchise 2 million black Americans
46
what sparked the march on birmingham?
in order to avoid desegregation in the city of Birmingham, Alabama they jus shut all of the parks, playgrounds and swimming pools
47
what did King and the SLCL do to chanllenge segregation in Birmingham?
they planned sit-ins and marches of the 350,000 population, 150,000 were black - they hoped to mobilise these black people
48
when did demonstrations begin in Birmingham?
April 1963
49
why was King arrested at one of his demonstrations in Birmingham? what did he write while in prison?
for defying a law that banned marches 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' that outlined that black people were tired of their treatment but how many people in the US had no idea about the fear that black americans lived in
50
how did the situation in Birmingham worsen after King's release from jail?
police chief Eugine Connor allowed his men to set dogs and high pressure fire hoses on the protestors
51
how many demonstrators did Connor arrest in Birmigham?
2,000 and 1,300 children
52
how did the march on Birmingham help to get civil rights talked about?
it was captured by television stations accross the world and pictures of Connor's harsh treatment of the protestors were in national newspapers this showed the violence and racism that still existed
53
who had to get involved in the march on Birmingham and what did they do?
Kennedy sent the Assistan Attourney General Buke Marshall to help King and Birmingham city leaders talk things over
54
what was agreed after King and Birmingham city leaders talked?
desegregation would take place within 90 days
55
what was one of the consequences of the march on Birmingham?
Kennedy's desicion to bring in a civil rights bill
56
when was the civil rights act passed? by whom?
1964 johnson
57
what did Johnson use to push the civil rights bill through?
-he used the assasination of kennedy as it was his legacy -he was Texan so could gain the support of southerners
58
give three things that were on the civil rights act?
1. the act created the Equal Employment Oppourtunities Commision (EEOC) to implement the law 2. segregation in hotels, motels, restaraunts, theatres were banned 3. any buisness engaged in transactions with the government was monitored to ensure there was no discrimination
59
how did america disenfranchise black americans (even though the 15th amendment said that black men could vote)?
-unfair taxation -literacy tests (where they were asked difficult cultural and arithmetic questions that no one could have answered)
60
when did the government set up the Voters Education Project?
1962
61
what did the Voter Education Project do? who was it staffed by?
-they spent time with eligible voters showing them how to register and how to overcome the barriers that they faced -members of the SNCC
62
was the Voter Education Project successful?
-it resulted in 65,000 new voter registrations -many people were still refused the right to vote on dubious grounds -many SNCC members faced harassment and some were shot
63
when did Martian Luther King decide to March from Selma to Birmingham and why?
-1965 -the civil rights acts didn't guarantee black Americans the vote so they marched to present a petition demanding voting rights
64
why was Selma chosen to march about voting rights in?
because only 383 black americans had been able to register out of a possible 15,000
65
what did King hope would come from the Selma march?
he hoped there would be a brutal reaction so that television would again highlight the bigotry in the south
66
why was it decided to march from Selma to Birmingham?
to present Governor Wallace with a petition asking for voting rights
67
what was Wallace's reaction to the march to Selma ?
he banned it but King was determined
68
when did the march from Selma to Birmingham take place?
7 March 1965
69
where was the march from Selma to Birmingham stopped?
at Edmund Pettus Bridge where they were attacked by Sheriff Clark's men and state troopers
70
what did the marchers face at Edmund Pettus Bridge?
tear gas, mounted police and clubs that became known as 'Bloody Sunday' this forced President Johnson's hand
71
Selma: after the initial failed march, another march took place. Why did King stop it?
he had promised Johnson that he would avoid violent confrontation with Clark again
72
what happened as a result of Selma?
-public opinion was firmly behind King -Johnson promised to put forwards a bill that enfranchised black americans -it was agreed that the march from Selma to Montgomery could go ahead if it was peacful and King led more than 25,000 people in this - the biggest event ever seen in the south
73
when was segrgation ruled unconstitutional after the Brown vs Topeka case? despite this how many black children still attended Jim Crow schools?
1954 2.4million
74
when did James Mereith attend university?
1962
75
when was Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus?
december 1955
76
what happened to Parks and King as a result of montgomery bus boycott?
-them and boycotters were intimidated by the Montgomery White Citizens Council -Kings home was firebombed -Parks and King were arrested for organising an ilegal boycott
77
what two organisations did King run?
-SCLC and MIA -southern christian leadership conference and the Montgomery Improvement Association
78
how many demonstrators attended the Marc on Washington?
250,000
79
how many people marched from Montgomery to Selma?
25,000 - biggest event ever in the south
80
when was the Voting Rights Act passed and what did it say?
-1965 -ended literacy tests -federal gov. monitored voter registration levels
81
82
when was the fair housing act passed and what did it say?
-1968 -discrimination in housing based on race, gender ect outlawed
83
what did Malcom X encourage people to do?
that people should fight for their rights 'by whatever means necarssary'
84
what was Stokley Carmichaels slogan?
"black is beautiful"
85
what was Stokely the chairman of?
SNCC
86
87
Why did MLK March from Selma to Birmingham?
Becuse a protester in Selma had been shot 2 weeks earlier
88
Give examples of racism faced by soldiers serving in WW2
-black women serving as nurses were only allowed to treat black soldiers -in every armed service, black Americans performed menial tasks and found promotion difficult -when black soldiers were injured they were only allowed to be treated with 'black blood' -discrimination worst in navy - black soldiers would perform dangerous task of loading ammunition onto ships
89
What progress was made regarding black Americans in the forces?
-by the end of 1944, black soldiers were fighting in intergrated units thanks to suppourt from general Eisenhower -by 1945, 600 black pilots had been trained -by the end of the war, 58 black sailors had risen to rank of officer
90
What progress was made legally regarding black employment in WW2?
-in 1941, Philip Randolph organised a 'March on Washington' about discrimination in the armed forces and workplace -Roosevelt feared the consequences of the March and met Randolph to discuss issues -Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 - stopped discrimination in industrial and government jobs -set up the Fair Employment Practices Commission - government threatened to withdraw contracts to encourage people to employ black people
91
What led to the race riots after WW2?
Discrimination remained a way of life in southern states and migration of black Americans to northern cities created greater racial tension
92
Give an example of one of the race riots
-Detroit, 1943 -25 black people, 9 white people killed -$2 million worth of damage
93
Why did the NAACP grow during the war? What did it grow to?
-awareness of discrimination was heightened -50,000 450,000
94
When was CORE formed? Who by? What did they do?
-congress of racial equality -founded by James Farmer -1942 -inspired by the non-violent tactics of Gandhi -used sit-ins leading to the end of segregation in some northern cities
95
What did Truman try to introduce in 1948? Who rejected it?
-a civil rights bill and an anti-lynching bill -Dixiecrats (southern democratic politicians)
96
What was the position of civil rights at the end of the 40s?
-most important reform = when the armed forces desegregated in 1948 -becuase of their contribution in the war, black Americans were in a better place to demand rights -Truman recognised their struggle and talked about in in speeches , raising the profile of civil rights to the public (though nothing was done legally speaking)
97
What were some examples of opposition to the Montgomery bus boycott?
-the Montgomery white citizens council led an organised opposition and its membership grew to 12,000 -king and other leaders had their houses firebombed in 1956 -90 of the leading figures (like King and Parks) were arrested for the illegal boycott (King payed $1,000 instead)
98
When did Kennedy get involved in the freedom rides but what happened nonetheless? What did the attorney general do?
-when people were arrested in Jackson -he secured a promise from state senator that there would be no mob violence -more than 300 people were imprisoned in Jackson alone -attorney general sent in US Marshals
99
What organisations helped in the March on Washington?
NAACP SNCC CORE SCLC
100
What was King keen to march on Washington?
-He knew that some people within the civil rights movement felt progress was slow and was worried that these people would drift towards violence if a high profile was not sustained
101
When was the March on Washington (Kings)
August 1963
102
What did people chant at the March on Washington (kings)
'Pass the bill' (Kennedys civil rights bill)
103
What happened as a result of the March on Washington (kings)?
-televised across the US so did a lot for the movement -put pressure on Kennedy to pass the civil rights Bill -king and other leaders met with Kennedy to discuss civil rights legislation and Kennedy expressed his commitment to the Civil Rights Bill but was aware of opposition from Republicans
104
What was the piece of legislation passed after the March to Selma called? What did it do?
-Voting Rights Act -ended literacy tests -federal agents monitored registration and step in if it was felt there was discrimination
105
When, by who and where was MLK assassinated?
-1968 -James Earl Ray -Memphis were he was supporting black refuse collectors who were striking for equal treatment with their white coworkers
106
What happened as a result of MLKs assassination?
-outbursts of rioting in more than 100 cities -46 people died -3,000 injured
107
How much did Nation of Islams membership grow by thanks to Malcom X? How?
-Grew to 100,000 between 1952-1964 -he was a great orator
108
Describe the race riot of 1965
-involved 30,000 people -LA -34 died -$40 million damage
109
When did race riots peak
-1967 -riots in 125 cities -total 130 people killed and $700 million damage
110
What was published as a result of Johnson asking for an investigation into rise in race riots? Was it successful?
-the Kerner Report that stated racism was deeply embedded into American society and police forces -it recommended federal initiatives -it was largely ignored
111
At what event did the black power movement gain tremendous publicity?
1968 Mexico City Olympics
112
How was black power publicised at the Olympics?
-at the winners ceremonies for 200 and 400 metre sprints -Smith and Carlos (two black winners) raised a clenched fist with single black gloves on = the movements salute and uniform -accused of bringing politics into sport and received death threats -Norman (an white Australian who came second) showed his support by wearing the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge
113
Who founded the black panthers? Who were they influenced by? When?
-Huey Newton, Bobby Seale -1966 -Malcom X
114
What were the black panthers prepared to do?
Form alliances with radical white groups if it would help them bring down the 'establishment'.
115
What were the black panthers prepared to do?
Form alliances with radical white groups if it would help them bring down the 'establishment'.
116
What did the Panthers advocate for?
End to capitalism and more socialism
117
How many members did the black panthers have by 1968?
5,000
118
Why and when did the black panthers have to disband?
-They were constantly targeted by the FBI -1982
119
What did the black panthers achieve?
-established a 'free breakfast for children programme' in California and Chicago -provided clothing distribution centres and gave guidance on drug rehabilitation assistance to family members of criminals

GCSE History (29 decks)

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