Civil Rights (2)

Question 1

What was the events of the Greensboro sit-in

Answer 1

• eighty-five students demanded to be served at a whites-only counter
• When they were refused they organised a sit-in
• Altogether 70,000 took part in sit-ins across the south and 3,600 went to jail
• When whites turned violent there was widespread television coverage and support for Civil Rights
• Black people didn’t react to attract more sympathy/media coverage

Question 2

who organised the sit-ins

Answer 2

• Student Non-violent Co-ordinating Committee (or ‘Snick’)

Question 3

what were The Freedom Riders

Answer 3

• they were CORE campaigners rode buses to highlight that desegregation had not happened

Question 4

What was the Anniston Bomb

Answer 4

• In 1961 the KKK firebombed a bus in Aniston, and buses were also attacked in Montgomery with little police protection, some riders arrested

Question 5

What was The James Meredith case

Answer 5

• James Meredith, a black student, was rejected from Mississippi university and the NAACP challenged his rejection
• The Supreme Court ordered the university to admit him but officials still stopped him
• In 1962 Kennedy sent the National Guard and federal troops soldiers into Mississippi to make sure that he could take his place at a university
• But when rioting followed, 23,000 troops were needed to keep order.

Question 6

What happened in Birmingham, Alabama April 1963

Answer 6

• SNCC, SCLC & ACMHR (Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights) began Campaign ‘C’ (for confrontation). They targeted Birmingham, Alabama because it was completely segregated and it was nicknamed ‘Bombingham’ due to the regular bombing of black churches, homes and businesses.

Question 7

How did the white police deal with the black protestors

Answer 7

• Arrests, water cannon, dogs and baton charges were used to disperse the marchers. Arrests reached 500 a day, but it was all shown on television and many were sickened by the violence.

Question 8

What happened in the March on Washington 1963

Answer 8

• Immediately after events in Birmingham, 250,000 people (including 40,000 whites) took part Despite fears, the march was peaceful

Question 9

what was the significance of all the marches

Answer 9

• Size, TV broadcast around the world, King’s emotive speech, black and white crowd with famous people involved too (e.g. Bob Dylan)

Question 10

What are some quotes from MLKs speech

Answer 10

• “all men are created equal” “the table of brotherhood” “oasis of freedom and justice” “…not judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”

Question 11

What was the Freedom Summer 1964

Answer 11

• 1000 volunteers went to Mississippi to work with local campaigners. Many white college students involved: Freedom Schools set up, helped many to pass voter registration tests.

Question 12

What significant white reaction was there to the freedom summer

Answer 12

• Reaction of many white Mississippians, many blacks lost jobs, beatings and violence common, only 1600 of 17000 successfully registered to vote

Question 13

What were the Mississippi murders 1964

Answer 13

• three CORE workers (two white ,Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, and one black, James Chaney) were murdered by the KKK in June 1964, although their bodies were not discovered until August. Other bodies of black CORE workers were also discovered in the search. Another scandal that gained much media coverage

Question 14

What was the role of JFK

Answer 14

• Appointed blacks to high level jobs, pressed for changes to laws, not afraid to intervene is south with executive orders eg James Meredith case.

Question 15

What was the role of Johnson

Answer 15

• Appointed blacks to high level jobs, Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, Escorted marchers from Selma to Montgomery

Question 16

What was ‘bloody sunday’

Answer 16

• Only 1% of blacks in Selma Alabama were registered to vote – a protest march was planned on 7 March 1965 from Selma to Montgomery but the marchers were stopped from crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge by state troopers with tear gas/cattle prods/clubs.

Question 17

what was achieved in the civil rights act 1964

Answer 17

• Banned:
  Discrimination in voting, in public spaces and in jobs (Equal, Opportunities, Commission)
• Gave government power to:
  Enforce desegregation, remove funding from state projects that discriminated

Question 18

what limitations were there in the civil rights act 1964

Answer 18

• Still difficult to enforce in many states
  Equal Opportunities Council had limited staff

Many in Deep South found ways around desegregation

Question 19

what was achieved in the Voting Rights Act 1965

Answer 19

• Set up:
  One voter registration requirement
  Federal government officials ran registration in some states

Question 20

what limitations were there in the Voting Rights Act 1965

Answer 20

Although 79,593 had been registered by end of 1965 it was still a very slow process
Even the federal officials faced opposition
Many black Americans still frustrated

Question 21

Who was Malcom X

Answer 21

• Born May 1925 as Malcolm Little. Early life: Father murdered, went to foster homes. Imprisoned for burglary. Joined the Nation of Islam, became interested in black nationalism, changed name to Malcom X. Early political career: NOI minister, then spokesman. NOI grew massively due to his campaigning

Question 22

what philosophies did Malcom x have

Answer 22

• Rejected non-violence, criticised MLK, thought that white Americans would always view blacks as inferior

Question 23

What later changed attitudes did Malcom X have

Answer 23

• Left NOI, changed views after visit to Mecca and became more willing to consider integration and accept white help. Met SNCC and CORE
• he was later assassinated in 1965 by NOI, 15000 attended his funeral

Question 24

What reasons are there for the emergence of Black power

Answer 24

• The Black power movement encouraged black Americans to be proud of their heritage and rejected white help and the idea of integration. They were influenced by Malcolm X’s ideas and spoke about revolution. They were popular amongst the poor as they focused on local issues and tried to improve the lives of those living on the ghettoes

Question 25

Who was Stokely Carmichael

Answer 25

• Set up Lowndes County Freedom Organisation to represent Black Americans (slogan was a panther which became a symbol)
• May 1966 he became leader of SNCC and more people from Black Power became involved that radicalised SNCC campaigns

Question 26

What happened in the march against fear

Answer 26

• James Meredith was shot on March through Mississippi

Question 27

What happened as a result of MLK and Carmichael taking over

Answer 27

• Carmichael gave speeches that showed new approach - “We been saying ‘freedom’ for six years,” he said. “What we are going to start saying now is ‘Black Power.’” CORE and SNCC became less welcoming of white supporters

Question 28

What happened in the Mexico 1968 Olympics

Answer 28

• Tommie Smith and John Carlos made Black Power salute on podium after 200m race. Seen across the world and had a massive impact. US papers condemned them, they received threats and were suspended from the team. But this simple act inspired many black Americans to join the Black Power Movement

Question 29

Who were the Black Panthers?

Answer 29

Founded in 1966 by Huey P Newton and Bobby Seale

- they wore Black beret, trousers, leather jacket

Question 30

What did the black panthers believe in

Answer 30

Black people needed black officials and police to protect them

Question 31

What would the black panthers do

Answer 31

• . street patrols, pressed local government officials to improve life for blacks, courses on black history

Question 32

what success did the black panthers have

Answer 32

local activities in ghetto communities, health clinics and breakfast clubs

Question 33

what negatives did the black panthers have

Answer 33

• Some were involved in robberies and deliberately provoking police, e.g Newton charged with murder

Question 34

What were the major riots across US 1965-57

Answer 34

• Major riots across US 1965-7 in places like New York, LA (Watts Riot of 1965), Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit sparked off by poor treatment of black Americans. Significant clashes with police and damage to property.

Question 35

What was the Kerner report

Answer 35

• the Kerner Report of 1968 that stated: riots were the result of poor conditions in the ghettos, white officials had failed to fix problems, the police needed to provide more protection in the ghettos, the media had sensationalised the riots

Question 36

What was kings campaign in the north

Answer 36

• MLK and the SCLC went to Chicago in 1966 to campaign for fairer housing. Mayor Daley of Chicago agreed to talks but did not fulfil his promises about housing. MLK then organised a big demonstration in Washington called the Poor People’s Campaign

Question 37

What was the impact of MLKs assassination

Answer 37

• MLK was assassinated and widespread rioting took place. The Poor People’s Campaign went ahead without much success.

Question 38

what was The extent of progress in civil rights by 1975

Answer 38

• Black protest split after 1969, with different groups focusing on different issues and using different tactics (some more radical, some still more peaceful). The Vietnam War became more of an issue so support for Civil Rights dropped
• Much progress had been made by 1975. 1970 Voting Rights Act banned literacy tests, in 1975 it was changed to include Hispanic, Native Americans and other races but the fight for equality in the US was far from won.