Civil Rights

Question 1

What event highlighted the levels of inequality and hypocrisy in the USA during the 1939-1962 Civil Rights era?

Answer 1

The Second World War

The war brought the issue of Civil Rights to the forefront of American politics.

Question 2

What was the status of Black Americans serving in the military during World War II?

Answer 2

Served in segregated units

By 1945, there were 750,000 black Americans in the US army.

Question 3

What restrictions were placed on Black soldiers in the US military during World War II?

Answer 3

• Not allowed into combat in the Marines
• US Air-Force would not accept black pilots
• Black nurses could only treat black soldiers
• Given menial tasks or most dangerous jobs

Question 4

Who supported the integration of combat units in the US military during World War II?

Answer 4

US Supreme Commander, Eisenhower

By 1944, there were hundreds of black officers in the army and marines.

Question 5

What was the outcome of the Double V campaign?

Answer 5

Gained improved civil rights and victory in war

Initiated at home to highlight civil rights issues.

Question 6

What executive order did Roosevelt issue regarding discrimination in jobs?

Answer 6

Stopped discrimination in industrial and government jobs

The number of black Americans in government jobs trebled to 200,000 by the end of the war.

Question 7

What significant Supreme Court case addressed segregation in education?

Answer 7

Brown v. Board of Education

Thurgood Marshall represented Linda Brown.

Question 8

What was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the Brown case in 1954?

Answer 8

Segregation in education was unconstitutional

Despite this, 2.4 million black children were still in Jim Crow schools in 1957.

Question 9

What event in 1957 forced President Eisenhower to take action on school integration?

Answer 9

Events at Little Rock, Arkansas

The state governor ordered national guardsmen to block the entry of black students.

Question 10

Who was the first African-American student to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962?

Answer 10

James Meredith

JFK sent federal marshals to escort him into the university.

Question 11

What action did Rosa Parks take in December 1955?

Answer 11

Refused to give up her seat on a bus

This led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Question 12

What organization was formed to support the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 12

Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)

MLK and Ralph Abernathy were involved.

Question 13

What was the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling in December 1956 regarding segregation?

Answer 13

Segregation was ruled unconstitutional

This was a significant victory for the civil rights movement.

Question 14

What strategy did students use during Sit-in protests?

Answer 14

Endured violence and assaults but didn’t retaliate

This nonviolent approach pressured the local economy.

Question 15

What were Freedom Riders attempting to test?

Answer 15

Whether integration was really happening

They faced violence and arrests during their efforts.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: By 1955, the army had changed from the most _______ to the most integrated.

Answer 16

segregated

Question 17

Who were instrumental in the fight for Civil Rights?

Answer 17

Individuals such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, John Lewis & Stokely Carmichael.

Question 18

What qualities did Martin Luther King (MLK) possess?

Answer 18

MLK was enthusiastic, energetic and able to inspire those who worked with him.

Question 19

What organizations did MLK lead?

Answer 19

He led the MIA and SCLC, voted TIME’s Man of the Year & won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Question 20

Why did King target Birmingham, Alabama?

Answer 20

It had a large black American population & a notoriously racist chief of police (Bull Connor).

Question 21

What significant document did King write while in jail?

Answer 21

‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ highlighting the slow progress towards Civil Rights.

Question 22

What was the outcome of the demonstrations in Birmingham?

Answer 22

2000 demonstrators & 1300 children were arrested; police violence gained massive publicity.

Question 23

What was the March on Washington?

Answer 23

An event in August 1963 with 250,000 demonstrators where King delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech.

Question 24

What were the setbacks faced by the Civil Rights campaign in 1963?

Answer 24

Four black girls were killed in a bomb attack & JFK was assassinated.

Question 25

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?

Answer 25

Banned segregation in hotels, motels, restaurants, lunch counters & theatres.

Question 26

What was the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Answer 26

Ended literacy tests and allowed federal monitoring of voter registration levels.

Question 27

What did the Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlaw?

Answer 27

Discrimination in housing based on race, gender, etc.

Question 28

What was Malcolm X’s view on the March on Washington?

Answer 28

He referred to it as a farce and believed violence was justified in self-defense.

Question 29

What slogan did Stokely Carmichael popularize?

Answer 29

‘Black is beautiful’.

Question 30

What was the Watts Riot?

Answer 30

A riot in LA resulting in 34 dead, 1000+ injured, 4000 arrested and $40m+ of damage.

Question 31

Who formed the Black Panthers?

Answer 31

Huey Newton & Bobby Seale.

Question 32

What was the 10 point programme of the Black Panthers?

Answer 32

Established free breakfast programme, provided clothing centres, and gave guidance on drug rehab.