Civil rights 1950s

Question 1

causes and events of brown v topeka

Answer 1

1951 school application by the parents of Linda Brown rejected because she was black
NAACP supports Brown and takes the case to the supreme court and rejected
1952 retrial of the case with new judge, Earl Warren was chief justice.
NAACP lawyers led by Thurgood Marshall argued that segregated schools damaged children psychologically even if schools were equal in funding and facilities.
1954 Supreme Court unanimously votes that school segregation is unconstitutional
1955 ruled that school desegregation should happen with all deliberate speed

Question 2

effects of brown v topeka

Answer 2

1. limited impact on school desegregation. the process was slow as there was on time schedule to follow for the desegregation.
2. black students still struggled in desegregated schools. Black families still faced bad feeling.
3. some places school segregation worsened. Because of ‘white flight’ in which white people left areas with large numbers of black residents.
4. provokes extreme backlash from racists. Brown v. Topeka known as ‘black Monday’ in the south and WCC White Citizen Councils set up
5. great victory for NAACP. increased awareness of black american civil rights
6. New legal precedent. Outlaws old precedent of Plessy v Fergusson “separate but equal”. Leads to many more legal cases and campaigns for desegregation.
   little to no immediate action but created long lasting impacts and inspired more civil rights movements

Question 3

Montgomery Bus Boycott causes and events

Answer 3

1950 Women’s political council in Montgomery starts fighting discrimination on buses
1955 1st december; Rosa Parks refuses to give up seat and arrested
5th december: 1 day bus boycott and MIA Montgomery Improvement Association founded
8th december: King and MIA leader meet with bus company who refuse MIA Demands. 381 day bus boycott begins
1956 1st february: Browder v Gayle begins in local court arguing segregation on buses is violating 14th amendment
22nd February: 90 leading members of MIA arrested for ‘disrupting lawful business’ and jailed until 19th march. all found guilty and paid fines
5th June: Browder v Gayle goes through
13th November, 17th December: WCC appeals and loses twice
20th December: African Americans can sit wherever

Question 4

Montgomery Bus Boycott impact and significance

Answer 4

segregation on public buses unconstitutional. raised awareness

Question 5

Little Rock Causes and events

Answer 5

1957 4th September Elisabeth Eckford tries to enter new school but stopped by guard and verbally abused by white crowd
12th September Eisenhower meets with governor Faubus to let children in and remove guards
23rd September federal guards escort little rock 9 into school but sent home because of a riot
25th September media pressure on eisenhower. sends 1200 troops to take control for students
1958 September Schools close for a vote of school desegregation. state fights AGAINST integration.
1959 August: Brown decision forces schools to reopen

Question 6

significance of Little Rock 9

Answer 6

shows that supreme court continues to follow Brown v Topeka. garners large media publicity for international audience and forcing the hand of government intervention. shows federal got wants desegregation but not all states want the same

Question 7

Murder of Emmett Till events

Answer 7

14 yr old from chicago moves to deep south goes to a grocery store and is accused of flirting and touching the store owner’s wife.
Ended up lynched by the shop owner and his half brother. Authorities in Mississippi wanted to quickly bury the body but Emmett’s mother wants his casket brought back to chicago. leaves casket open gets a lot of attention. shop owner and half brother put on trial and found not guilty even when confessing to beating and killing till because of a biased white male jury.

Question 8

Murder of Emmett Till impact and significance

Answer 8

Northern white Americans saw extent of southern racism and prejudice. Motivated African Americans to take an active role in fighting for civil rights.

Question 9

Civil Rights Act

Answer 9

1957 9th sept Eisenhower
Pressured by bus boycott and Little Rock
Federal Civil Rights Commission to investigate racial discrimination
Allowed government to prosecute states interfering with rights to vote
Dixiecrats forced bill to be amended to weaken impact of the bill
First civil rights legislation for 82 years. Stepping stone for 1964 civil rights act