Civil Rights In 1960s

Question 0

Civil rights acts in 1957 and 1960 ineffective

Answer 0

1957 - investigate voting rights
1960 - increased record keeping and supervision of voting procedures
Small beginning achieved by congress

Question 1

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Answer 1

Rosa Parks refuse give up seat, she arrested

MLK set up bus boycott for year, Supreme Court ruled Alabamans bus segregation laws unconstitutional

Question 2

Non-violent protest won support

Answer 2

MLK peaceful protests, marches, freedom rides - publicity & sympathy
Freedom rides 1961, CORE and SNCC bus trips round south. Violent reaction, burning of bus in Anniston

Question 3

Birmingham victory convinced president

Answer 3

Kennedy (1961) gave limited support to blacks, didn’t want to lose southern voters
Protests started in Birmingham, protesters met by police. Images of harsh treatment of protesters in media gained support for cause. King and hundreds jailed
Kennedy decided to send major civil rights bill to congress

Question 4

Pressure on congress

Answer 4

250000 demonstrators marched on Washington where King spoke of dream of non-racist America
Kennedy assassinated, civil rights bill still not passed. Replaced by Johnson.
Johnson more effective in gaining civil rights

Question 5

Important acts in 1964 and 1965

Answer 5

Civil rights act 1964 - enforce segregation in all public places
Voting rights problem, could vote but south invented rules to stop them
“Freedom summer” students spent vacations in Mississippi in drive for voter registration. 3 students murdered
Police in Selma, Alabama, used clubs and tear gas on civil rights marchers, brutality was televised. King who awarded Nobel peace prize in 1964 led March from Selma to Montgomery
1965 Johnson sign voting rights act

Question 6

Still discrimination and unrest

Answer 6

Blacks still trapped in poverty
Vietnam war absorb funds
Some blacks impatient with non-violence and waiting
Inner city riots led by blacks, led to many deaths

Question 7

MLK assassinated

Answer 7

1966 MLK goes to chicago to organise marches for discrimination in housing
Gov gave no support, Johnson angered at lack of support for Vietnam policy from black leaders
Congress pass civil rights act for housing after kings assassination led to riots in more than 100 cities

Question 8

Some groups favoured violent protest

Answer 8

Malcolm X rejected integration and non-violence. Nation of Islam, separatist organisation. Left Nation of Islam and killed by members

1966 SNCC chairman Carmichael popularised ‘Black Power’ slogan. SNCC expelled white members. In Newark, conference held calling for separate black nation and militia

Black Panther Party, members wore uniform and went on patrol, defend blacks from police violence. Programmes of education and healthcare

Question 9

Affirmative action gave blacks opportunities

Answer 9

Johnson combatted under-representation in areas of employment by preferential hiring policy
Nixon criticised the policy ‘reverse discrimination’
Nixon encouraged black owned businesses
1970s attempts to integrate schools by busing children from diff areas to make sure schools ethnically mixed, met with resistance.

Question 10

Black athlete protests at Olympics

Answer 10

1968 Mexico Olympics, Smith and Carlos won medals in 200m sprint
During national anthem, gave black power salute in protest racism
Thrown out of team and sent home. Negative reaction