Civil Rights Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the limitations that were placed on African Americans during WWII.

A

-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.

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2
Q

How did President Eisenhower feel about African Americans in the army during WWII?

A

He supported it, and encouraged the introduction of integrated combat units.

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3
Q

By 1945, how many black pilots were there?

A

600

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4
Q

During WWII, how many black soldiers rose to the rank of officer?

A

60

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5
Q

What was the Double V Campaign?

A

A campaign that fought the segregation and Jim Crow laws in the US, while also seeking to defeat fascism and Nazism abroad.

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6
Q

What year was the Brown v Topeka case?

A

1954.

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7
Q

Describe the Brown v Topeka case.

A

-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.

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8
Q

In 1957, how many black children were in Jim Crow schools?

A

2.4 million

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9
Q

What year did the events of Little Rock High unfold?

A

1957.

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10
Q

Describe the events of Little Rock High.

A

-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.

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11
Q

What year was James Meredith permitted to go to the University of Mississippi?

A

1962

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12
Q

Describe the events of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi.

A

-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.

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13
Q

What year was Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus?

A

1955

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14
Q

What was the MIA?

A

The Montgomery Improvement Association, founded by MLK and helped to organise the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

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15
Q

When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

A

December 5th 1955

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16
Q

What were some of the consequences of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

A

-MLK’s home was firebombed
-MLK and Rosa Parks were arrested for organising an illegal boycott
-1956, Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional.

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17
Q

When and where were the Sit-in protests?

A

1960 in North Carolina

18
Q

Describe the sit-in protests.

A

-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.

19
Q

Who were the Freedom Riders?

A

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.

20
Q

What happened to the Freedom Riders?

A

In Anniston, Alabama, a bus was attacked and burnt. In Montgomery, riders were beaten up, and in Jackson around 100 riders were jailed.

21
Q

What organisations did MLK lead?

A

The MIA and the SCLC

22
Q

Describe MLK.

A

-An energetic middle-class Christian.
-Won the Nobel Peace Prize and was voted TIME’s Man of the Year.

23
Q

Why did MLK target Birmingham, Alabama for his work?

A

Because it had a large Black American population and a notoriously racist chief of police (Eugene “Bull” Connor)

24
Q

What year was the Birmingham Campaign?

A

1963.

25
Q

Describe the 1963 Birmingham Campaign.

A

-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.

26
Q

What year was the March on Washington?

A

The summer of 1963

27
Q

Describe the March on Washington.

A

-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.

28
Q

When was the Civil Rights Act passed and what was interesting about it?

A

1964, it was passed by LBJ after JFK’s assassination, and approved as a sign of respect for the former president.

29
Q

Describe some of the policies included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

A

-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.

30
Q

When was the Selma March?

A

March 1965

31
Q

Describe the Selma March.

A

-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.

32
Q

Why did MLK choose to march in Selma?

A

To highlight barriers to black voter registration.

33
Q

What year was the Voting Rights Act passed?

A

1965.

34
Q

Describe some of the policies of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

A

-Ended literacy tests
-Federal government monitored voter registration levels

35
Q

When was the Fair Housing Act passed?

A

1968

36
Q

Describe the features of the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

A

Discrimination in housing based on race, gender, etc. were outlawed

37
Q

Describe Malcolm X.

A

-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.

38
Q

Describe some of the actions taken by MLK.

A

Set up educational and social programmes for black youths in ghettos. Wanted to reconnect black Americans with their African heritage.

39
Q

Who was Stokely Carmichael?

A

-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”

40
Q

Describe the Black Panthers.

A

-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.