Civil Rights Protests

Question 1

What is a sit-in?

Answer 1

A type of protest in which people refused to leave a place until their demands are considered or agreed to

Question 2

What were some of the negative responses to sit -ins?

Answer 2

Insults, spat at, drinks and food thrown, physically attacked

Question 3

What tactic led to thousands being arrested?

Answer 3

Jail not bail.

Question 4

Name a famous example of a sit-in

Answer 4

Greensboro 1963

Question 5

Identify 4 reasons the sit-ins were significant.

Answer 5

1.Lots of publicity 2.More visible than boycotts 3.Large numbers taking part 4.Successfuly desegregated some places

Question 6

Name 3 Civil Rights organisations

Answer 6

NAACP, CORE, SCLC

Question 7

What and when were the Freedom Rides?

Answer 7

A journey black and white students took on buses from Washington D.C. to the South to confront segregation. They set off in May 1961

Question 8

What happened to the Freedom Rides bus?

Answer 8

Attacked by the KKK- they firebombed the bus, smashed the windows, slashed tires and beat up freedom riders/

Question 9

What happened to the people who attacked the Freedom Riders?

Answer 9

Nothing- in fact, the police arrested the freedom riders for ‘starting the riot’

Question 10

Why did states begin to integrate?

Answer 10

President Kennedy threatened to send US Marshals

Question 11

Who was the chief of police in Montgomery?

Answer 11

Bull’ Connor

Question 12

What happened to James Meredith?

Answer 12

He applied to university in 1961 and his application was rejected as they refused to accept integration

Question 13

What was President Kennedy’s response to the Meredith case?

Answer 13

He ordered a law called ‘desist’ which means stop resisting. When riots broke out, he sent 2,000 Federal troops and 300 state troops to protect Meredith whilst he attended the university for a year.

Question 14

Why was the Meredith Case significant?

Answer 14

It showed the President was unafraid to intervene and enforce supreme court rulings.

Question 15

What were the aims of Martin Luther King?

Answer 15

Aim racial discrimination, achieve racial equality, bring about justice including for the poor

Question 16

What were the methods used by MLK?

Answer 16

Peaceful demonstrations, non-violent direct action, speeches, publicity, lobbying politicians

Question 17

Why did the FBI tap King’s phone?

Answer 17

They suspected he was too left-wing and a threat to the USA

Question 18

Idenitfy 3 qualities King had that helped him gain widespread support?

Answer 18

Well educated and a good speaker, continually emphasised non-violence, worked with people of all races

Question 19

What and when were the 3 main peace marches?

Answer 19

Birmingham Alabama 1953, Washington 1963 and Selma Alabama 1965

Question 20

Why was Birmingham, Alabama successful?

Answer 20

Some white businesses desegregated, White Americans were appalled by KKK violence and began to support, inspired other marches, Civil Rights Bill was introduced to Congress

Question 21

What were some of the failures of Birmingham, Alabama?

Answer 21

The police arrested and imprisoned thousands of peaceful protestors including King. 1,000 children arrested, dogs and fire hoses set on demonstrators, race riots broke out, many places stayed segregated

Question 22

Why was the March on Washington successful?

Answer 22

Racial discrimination still continued- economic inequality and vote registration

Question 23

Why was the march on Selma a success?

Answer 23

Huge publicity and shocking scenes caused many protestors across the USA to join, President Johnson introduced a voting rights bill in Congress- the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965

Question 24

What is seen as a negative of the Selma March?

Answer 24

The civil rights movement began to split between peace and militant methods

Question 25

What did the Voting Rights Act 1965 do?

Answer 25

One fair national voting test, banned states from setting own voting qualificationd and appointed federal examiners to supervise voter registration

Question 26

What was the Nation of Islam?

Answer 26

A black nationalist group

Question 27

Why was Malcolm X critical of Martin Luther King?

Answer 27

He believed King was attempting to please white people and African Americans should fight for their freedoms by any means necessary.