Civil Rights Flashcards
Describe the limitations that were placed on African Americans during WWII.
-Black Americans had to serve in segregated units.
-Black soldiers were not allowed to combat in the Marines
-The US air-force would not accept black pilots
-Black nurses were only allowed to treat black soldiers
-Black blood for black soldiers
-Black soldiers were given menial jobs or made to do the most dangerous ones.
How did President Eisenhower feel about African Americans in the army during WWII?
He supported it, and encouraged the introduction of integrated combat units.
By 1945, how many black pilots were there?
600
During WWII, how many black soldiers rose to the rank of officer?
60
What was the Double V Campaign?
A campaign that fought the segregation and Jim Crow laws in the US, while also seeking to defeat fascism and Nazism abroad.
What year was the Brown v Topeka case?
1954.
Describe the Brown v Topeka case.
-Thurgood Marshall from the NAACP represented Linda Brown, who wanted to go to an all-white school because it was closer to home.
-Marshall argued that educational achievement was restricted and self-esteem damaged by the separate but equal laws.
-The court ruled that segregation in education was unconstitutional.
In 1957, how many black children were in Jim Crow schools?
2.4 million
What year did the events of Little Rock High unfold?
1957.
Describe the events of Little Rock High.
-After the Brown v Topeka ruling, 9 black students were permitted to to go Little Rock High in Arkansas for their education.
-State governor Faubus ordered national guardsmen to block the entry of the little rock 9.
-As a result, President Eisenhower sent 1,000 federal troops to Little Rock to allow the black students to go to school safely.
-Media coverage of the vicious white crowd embarrassed a nation that championed freedom and equality.
-Faubus closed all Arkansas schools to prevent integration for 2 years.
What year was James Meredith permitted to go to the University of Mississippi?
1962
Describe the events of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi.
-JFK sent 320 federal marshals to escort James Meredith into the university.
-Riots followed, and JFK sent a further 2,000 troops to restore order.
What year was Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus?
1955
What was the MIA?
The Montgomery Improvement Association, founded by MLK and helped to organise the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
December 5th 1955
What were some of the consequences of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
-MLK’s home was firebombed
-MLK and Rosa Parks were arrested for organising an illegal boycott
-1956, Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional.
When and where were the Sit-in protests?
1960 in North Carolina
Describe the sit-in protests.
-4 African American students were denied service, and stayed seated in protest.
-Many other students joined in.
-Students endured violence and assaults, but didn’t retaliate.
-Their approach put pressure on the local economy and was successful.
Who were the Freedom Riders?
African Americans led by the group CORE that took public transport from Washington to Louisiana in 1961. They wanted to test whether racial integration was really happening.
What happened to the Freedom Riders?
In Anniston, Alabama, a bus was attacked and burnt. In Montgomery, riders were beaten up, and in Jackson around 100 riders were jailed.
What organisations did MLK lead?
The MIA and the SCLC
Describe MLK.
-An energetic middle-class Christian.
-Won the Nobel Peace Prize and was voted TIME’s Man of the Year.
Why did MLK target Birmingham, Alabama for his work?
Because it had a large Black American population and a notoriously racist chief of police (Eugene “Bull” Connor)
What year was the Birmingham Campaign?
1963.
Describe the 1963 Birmingham Campaign.
-Students and children joined the demonstrations to test the police reaction
-There were a total of 2,000 demonstrators, and 1,300 children were arrested
-Dogs and powerful water hoses were used. The violence from police towards peaceful demonstrators gained massive publicity.
-JFK got involved and agreed that desegregation would take place within 90 days.
What year was the March on Washington?
The summer of 1963
Describe the March on Washington.
-250,000 demonstrators came to advocate for the rights of African Americans.
-MLK gave his “I have a dream” speech, which was televised and put pressure on JFK to pass his civil rights bill.
When was the Civil Rights Act passed and what was interesting about it?
1964, it was passed by LBJ after JFK’s assassination, and approved as a sign of respect for the former president.
Describe some of the policies included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
-Banned segregation in hotels, motels, restaurants, lunch counters and theatres
-Black students were given equal rights
-It became the responsibility of federal government to bring cases to court to tackle discrimination.
-Equal Employment Opportunity Commission set up.
When was the Selma March?
March 1965
Describe the Selma March.
-MLK and his followers were beaten and arrested, one was murdered
-Marchers were attacked by Jim Clark’s men, used tear gas and mounted police with clubs. Described as “BLOODY SUNDAY”
-Lyndon B Johnson intervened and agreed to put a bill through for black voting rights.
Why did MLK choose to march in Selma?
To highlight barriers to black voter registration.
What year was the Voting Rights Act passed?
1965.
Describe some of the policies of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
-Ended literacy tests
-Federal government monitored voter registration levels
When was the Fair Housing Act passed?
1968
Describe the features of the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Discrimination in housing based on race, gender, etc. were outlawed
Describe Malcolm X.
-Malcolm X was a Muslim that came from the African American ghettos, and had a tougher approach to bringing about change than MLK.
-Believed that violence was justified in self defence
-Originally believed in separatism but changed his mind later.
-Believed MLK was ineffective, calling the Washington March a fad.
Describe some of the actions taken by MLK.
Set up educational and social programmes for black youths in ghettos. Wanted to reconnect black Americans with their African heritage.
Who was Stokely Carmichael?
-The chairman of the SNCC, inspired by Malcolm X.
-Founded Black Power
-Encouraged black people to take responsibility for their own lives and reject white help.
-Created the slogan “Black is beautiful”
Describe the Black Panthers.
-Formed by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.
-A political group that held militant black power views.
-Established a free breakfast programme, provided clothing centres, and gave guidance on drug rehabilitation
-The internal divisions within the organisation made its success limited.
