Civil Rights And Feminist Movement In The 1960S And 1970s (USA) Flashcards
Identify five ways black people experienced racism in America in the early 1950s
- Jim Crow laws in the southern states legalised the segregation of black and white people (e.g. education transport restaurants)
- Black people were stopped from registering to vote (e.g. only 5% of black people were registered to vote in Mississippi)
- There was inequality in education (e.g. the best universities in the country were close to black people)
- There was inequality in the workplace
- They were not equal in the eyes of the law (e.g. many police officers felt to stop talk for black people and I was guilty were not punished by white Juries)
What is the name of the laws which are legalised segregation in southern America?
The Jim Crow laws
Which civil rights campaign group challenged the segregation of education in 1954?
The NAACP (national association for the advancement of coloured people)
What case did the NAACP used to challenge the segregation of education in 1954?
They used the case of Linda Brown. she had to travel several kilometres to school every day including crossing a dangerous railway track instead of attending the nearby white-only school this was known as the brown V board of education
What did the Supreme Court rule in the brown V board case (1954)?
Chief Justice Earl Warren stated that segregated education was not equal and against American constitution
What did Chief Justice Earl Warran order to happen after the success of the brown V board case (1954)?
Who ordered the southern states to set up integrated schools ‘with all deliberate speed’
Identify two achievements of the brown V board case (1954)
- Segregated education was ruled unconstitutional
2. Southern states were ordered to integrate schools.
Identify to failures of the brown V board case (1954)
- Southern states oppose the integration of education (as shown by the events of Little Rock high school in 1957)
- By 1968 58% of black children are still being educated and segregated schools
What happened to Little Rock high school in 1957? (Three stages)
- In 1957 the Supreme Court ordered the governor of Arkansas,
Orval faubus, to integrate schools and allow 9 black students attend little rock high school. - Faubus ordered steak chips to prevent the black students from attending the school
- President Kennedy Send in federal troops for six weeks to protect the students and ensure they could attend school. The students were confronted and abused by 1000-strong crowds
When was the Montgomery bus boycott?
1955–1956
Who initially decided to challenge the segregation of Montgomery’s buses in 1955?
Rosa Parks
How did Rosa Parks challenge the segregation of Montgomerys buses in 1955?
She refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested, convicted and taken to court
What organisation was formed to help challenge the segregation of bosses in Montgomery?
The Montgomery improvement Association (MIA)
Identify two pieces of evidence which suggests the popularity of MIA’s boycott buses
- On the first day of the boycott the busses were empty
2. The bus company lost 65% of its income during the boycott
How did people oppose the Montgomery bus boycott?
- Martin Luther King was arrested twice.
- Integrated busses were shot at.
- Black churches and homes were set on fire.
What was the outcome of Rosa Parks protest and a Montgomery bus boycott?
In December 1956 the supreme court declared that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.
Identify an achievement of the Montgomery bus boycott (1955–1956)
The Supreme Court declared that segregation on buses and all transport services was unconstitutional and some bus services in southern states began to be desegregated
Identify one Phalia of the Montgomery bus boycott (1955-1956)
Many US states did not obey the ruling that segregation on transport services was unconstitutional
What type of protested civil rights campaigners use in early 1960s?
Non-violent direct action
Which fruit organisations used non-violent direct action?
- Southern Christian leadership conference (SCLC) (led by Martin Luther King).
- Student non-violent co-ordinating committee (SNCC)
- Congress of racial equality (CORE)
What was the main method of protest used by SNCC?
Sit-ins
Describe the sit-ins organised by SNCC
Between February and July 1960 students sat in whites only seats in restaurants and lunch counters, Starting in Woolworths restaurant (Greensboro North Carolina). They refused to leave the restaurants when they were refused service
What were the achievements of SNCC sit-ins?
By the end of 1960 lunch counters had been desegregated in 126 cities
What was the main method of protest used by CORE?
Freedom rides on interstate bus services (Buses travelling between states)
Describe the freedom rides organised by CORE
CORE aimed to test the Supreme Court ruling that the segregation of transport was unconstitutional. From May 1961, “freedom riders” road on buses from northern states to the south where segregation remained in place in buses and bus station facilities.
What were the achievements of CORE freedom rides?
- President Kennedy supported the freedom riders by sending in federal troops to protect them.
- In November 1961, a law desegregating interstate travel was finally enforced
How did people respond to freedom rides?
When a bus with 13 black and white CORE and SNCC Campinas arrived in Alabama a white mould attack and bombed the bus. Police chief Bull Connor did little to protect the activists.
What was the main method of protest
used by SCLC?
Marches to bring publicity for the Civil Rights movement and put pressure on the US government to pass a Civil Rights Law.