Civil Rights campaign in the 1950s

Question 1

What did the NAACP stand for?

Answer 1

National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People

Question 2

In what year did Linda Brown (with the help of the NAACP) take the Board of Education to court and where was this?

Answer 2

1954 - Topeka, Kansas

Question 3

Why did the Linda Brown take the Board of Education to court?

Answer 3

She had to travel several kilometres, across a dangerous rail track to get to school rather than attend a white only school nearby. Had to walk 21 blocks instead of 7.

Question 4

Why was the Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka a ‘test case’ for the civil rights campaigners?

Answer 4

If Supreme Court agreed with Linda Brown the argument that segregated schools were equal would fall down.

Question 5

What did Chief Justice Earl Warren decide in May 1954?

Answer 5

In favour of Brown and the NAACP that segregated schools were not equal and that the Southern states set up integrated schools very quickly.

Question 6

In what year did the events at Little Rock, Arkansas take place?

Answer 6

1957

Question 7

What did the Supreme Court order the Governor of Arkansas (Orval Faunus) to do?

Answer 7

Let 9 African American students attend a a white school in Little Rock.

Question 8

What did the Governor of Arkansas actually do?

Answer 8

Ordered his state troops (National Guard) to prevent the African American students from attending school (witnessed by American population on TV).

Question 9

What did President Eisenhower do?

Answer 9

• tried to convince Faubus to obey the ruling about desegregation
• sent in Federal troops to protect the students (who were attacked by white mobs), they stayed six weeks
• National Guard stayed for a year protecting the African American students

Question 10

When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 10

December 1955- December 1956

Question 11

What did Rosa Parks do to get arrested?

Answer 11

Refused to give up her seat to a white man on the bus (segregated areas in buses).

Question 12

What organisation was formed as part of the protest in Montgomery and what action did they suggest?

Answer 12

Montgomery Improvement Association

For all African Americans to boycott the buses in Montgomery.

Question 13

Who was President of the protest movement in Montgomery?

Answer 13

Martin Luther King

Question 14

On the first day of the protest at Montgomery, how many turned up to listen to a speech by the President of the MIA?

Answer 14

10,000-15,000

Question 15

How much money did the bus company lose? %

Answer 15

65%

Question 16

How did the MIA deal with the problem of travel whilst the bus boycott was on?

Answer 16

• Two-thirds were taken by organised carpools (shared lifts)

- the rest walked

Question 17

What did the Supreme Court decide in December 1956?

Answer 17

Montgomery bus laws were declared illegal

Question 18

What intimidation did the MIA face during the boycott?

Answer 18

• Martin Luther King was arrested twice
• local judges declared carpools illegal
• churches and homes were set on fire
• integrated buses were fired at by snipers (bombers and snipers charged but acquitted)

Question 19

What did the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) do?

Answer 19

• ran conferences and trained civil rights activists in techniques of non-violent protest (how to handle the police, law and media)

Question 20

When was SCLC set up?

Answer 20

1957