Civil Rights In 1950s

Question 0

Blacks remained second class citizens

Answer 0

Roosevelt banned racial discrimination in defence industries
Race riots, people killed

South segregation enforced by law. In north informal,lower social status

KKK secret organisation, still alive

Question 1

African Americans fought in WW2

Answer 1

Million blacks fought for US
Army segregated
Blacks fought well, got no Medal of Honour
Blacks admitted to navy and pilot
Fought for freedom, at home oppressed
After war Truman ended segregation in armed forces

Question 2

Justice lay in enforcing constitution

Answer 2

Declaration of Independence and constitution day all citizens have equal rights
NAACP - challenged discrimination in court
CORE - dedicated to non-violent protest
SCLC - used church for protests
SNCC - student nonviolent

Question 3

Supreme Court ruled against segregated education

Answer 3

Campaigns by NACCP, Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of education that racial segregation in state school unconstitutional

Constitution highest law, had to intervene when contradicted by state law

Eisenhower order 1000 paratroopers Central High school in Little Rock, enforce admission of 9 black students, mob violence

James Meredith needed protection of federal troops to register as student in Mississippi

In both cases state governor did all could, backed by locals, to defy federal authorities