Civil Rights 60s Flashcards
Why did congress pass the Civil Rights Act 1964?
- Activism of groups like NAACP and SNCC
- White northern sympathisers
- a suitable tribute to the newly assassinated JFK
- president Johnson’s commitment to civil rights and skills in convincing congress
pros and cons of Civil Rights Act 1964?
+ revolutionised the south forcing desegregation of many public places
- 68% southern black children attended segregated schools in 1968
- did little to facilitate black voting in the deep south.
Causes, Events and Consequences of the Selma campaign
CAUSES - MLK staged a protest in Selma agaisnt black disenfranchisement in the deep south. sought to elicit white violence to demonstrate white brutality to force congress to pass voting legislation
**EVENTS **-racists beat protesters, King arrested wrote letter in jail, march from Selma to Montgomery, bloody sunday
**CONSEQUENCES **- bloody Sunday made international headlines, pressed congress to pass voting rights act, transformed the south.
what were the issues in Black ghettos??
-poor housing
- white prejudice hard to relocate
- poor education, hard to find well paid work (only 32% black American graduated, 56% white)
- police mostly white and racist
CAUSES,EVENTS, CONSEQUENCES of the watts riots 1965
CAUSE: black man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, some say he resisted arrest
EVENTS: black mobs set fire to many stores in Watts, 34 people died, many more injured, looting and violence
CONSEQUENCE: shifted MLK’s focus to economic equality “class revolt of the underprivileged against the privileged”
CAUSES, EVENTS and CONSEQUNECES of the Chicago campaign 1966
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CAUSES: economic inequality cntinued, de facto segregation still existed, to prevent radicalisation of ghetto inhabitants, alienating white sympathisers as civil rights activists didnt seem to understand their problems
-** EVENTS**:MLK’s family temporary inhabitants of chicago ghetto, lead reporters around poor conditions, led marches into white neighbourhood where black ppl couldnt rent houses - CONSQUENCES: ACHIEVED LITTLE Mayor Daley agreed to improve housing (reneged as soon as king left), white sympathisers backed white house owners, some turned to black power movement
what was the Nation of Islam and why was it significant??
an off-shoot of islam head by Elijah Muhammad.
offered an alternative to “white mans” christianity.
promoted black separation and pride in black culture.
contributed to rise of Black Power and divisions between black and white people
malcom X
AIMS, METHODS, ACHIEVEMENTS
AIMS: improve black lives, separatism (not interested in being American), black ppl to gain control though their own social and economic lives
METHODS: rejected non-violent protest as encouraged black submission
ACHIEVEMENTS: drew attention to ghettos, contributed to black pride, inspired assertive black activism and Black power movement.
why did Black Power develop?
- mid-1960s,
- ambiguous so to catch more supporters, “everything to everyone” , - ghetto problems,
- police brutality
- NAACP and SCLC too slow to fix anything
how did the Black Panthers help the ghettos??
- over 40 clinics for health welfare and legal rights
- set up Libertarian Schools generated knowledge and pride in black culture / history
- raised awareness for sickle cell anaemia (disproportionally affected back people)
how did the black panthers react to policy brutality??
- stockpiled weapons for self defence and hoped to expose police brutality.
- protests and paramilitary uniforms made seem strong
- often targeted by police (chicago 8 -bobby seale)
how are the Black Panthers remembered??
by whites heavily criticised for militarism but remembered sympathetically by black community and with pride.
what was the significance of the Black power movement??
- raised black pride and encouraged teaching of history and culture.
- alienated white ppl due to perceived violence but seen as self defence by black community.
- damaged effective civil rights movement by doing this.
- failed to solve ghetto problems.
what organisation did Cesar Chavez join in 1952 to fight for Latino equality??
Community Service Organisation - worked to register new Latino voter and fought back against racial and economic discrimination.
what organisation did Cesar Chavez found after leaving the CSO??
National Farm Workers Association - fought for farmers working conditions and wages
1965 california grape strike, nation wide boycott of california grape farms.
