Civil Rights Summary Flashcards
What was the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and when was it formed?
The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) were a terrorist group and it was formed after the Civil War in 1872 as a response to the freedom of Black Americans.
What were the main goals of the KKK?
Its main aim was to preserve white supremacy after the slaves were freed.
Describe the tactics used by the KKK to terrorize the Black American community.
They would use extreme acts of terror on their victims such as lynching. It used brutal violence against the Black American community and carried out lynchings and beatings of people they did not agree with
How did the secrecy of the KKK affect its membership and influence?
It was a secret society, know one knew the identity of its members this meant people from all walks of life joined the KKK.
Name 3 professions that joined the kkk
It included people in many professions such as the police, judges and even politicians.
Who were the targets of the KKK’s violence and discrimination, name people and religions.
The KKK was also against immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe. They also targeted other religious groups such as Jews and Catholics
What was the policy of segregation, and where was it most prevalent?
This policy of segregation was that there were separate facilities for Blacks and Whites. The policy of segregation was most prevalent in areas of the deep South.
Define civil rights
Civil Rights - personal rights guaranteed and protected by the American constitution
Who founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and what was its purpose?
Web Du Bois founded the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) which worked hard to improve Black people’s rights through the courts.
How did World War II impact race relations in the USA?
The start of the Second World War in 1939 started to break down some of the race barriers that still existed in the USA. Blacks and Whites were on the same side but Black people were only allowed to do menial roles in the army.
What were the key goals of the Civil Rights Movement?
The Civil Rights Movement campaigned for black people to have: the right to take part in government and to vote in elections; an equal standard of health care; an equal standard of education and an equal protection by the law.
When did President Truman ban segregation in the armed forces?
In 1948
Who was Emmett Till, and what led to his brutal murder?
A middle class black boy from Chicago (northern state) who suffered from a stammer. He was accused of grabbing a white woman, catcalling her and wolf whistling her which lead to his murder.
Describe the circumstances surrounding Emmett Till’s kidnapping and subsequent death.
Roy Bryant and his half-brother, JW Milam, decided to go looking for Emmett. In the early hours of Sunday 28th August, they kidnapped Emmett from his uncle’s house at gunpoint. He was beaten, had his eye gauged out, shot and a huge 75-pound metal fan was tied to his neck with barbed wire, to weigh him down.
What was the outcome of the trial for Emmett Till’s murderers?
The two men Roy Bryant and his half-brother were sentenced as not guilty.
What happened during the trial of Emmett Till’s murderers, and what was the verdict?
Roy Bryant and JW Milam stood trial for the kidnap and murder of Emmett Till. Their trial was held in front of a white judge and 12 white men on the jury. Moses Wright (Emmett’s uncle) identified Roy Bryant and JW Milam in court as the men who had kidnapped his nephew. The court listened to clear evidence linking Bryant and Milam to the death of Emmett Till. The jury unanimously found Bryant and Milam not guilty — they took around an hour to reach their decision. Bryant and Milam were immediately released to applause and celebration
How did Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till, respond to her son’s death?
Emmett’s body was taken home to Chicago and his body displayed in an open casket. Maimie said ‘Let the people see what I’ve seen’
What was the public reaction to Emmett Till’s open-casket funeral and the publication of his photos
Tens of thousands (between 50,000 and 100,000) filed past Emmett’s casket to pay their respect. Jet magazine published pictures of the funeral. It was now clear to the world that what had happened to Emmett was a lynching (brutal killing without a legal trial).
What were Jim Crow laws, and how did they affect public services like education?
They were laws was made it legal to enforce segregation of blacks and white in all public services. These became known as ‘Jim Crow’ laws.
Describe the case of Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education.
Oliver Brown, a parent from Topeka, Kansas, challenged the Board of Education because his daughter had to walk two miles to an all-Black school, despite a nearby white-only school being just half a mile away. Supported by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), Brown filed a lawsuit aiming to end racial segregation in schools. Initially, Brown lost his case in 1951, but he appealed, leading to the Supreme Court hearing it a few years later. In May 1954, the Supreme Court’s chief judge ruled that educational segregation must end
By 1957 how many black children were attended formerly segregated schools.
By 1957, over 300,000 Black children were attending schools that had been exclusively for white students
How did the Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education influence the membership and activities of the KKK?
In 1955, the Supreme Court ruling influenced membership of the KKK by causing it to increase significantly following the Supreme Court ruling.
What part did Thomas Clarkson play in the civil rights movement?
In May 1787 the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was formed - Clarkson was a key member his role was to travel up and down the country collecting evidence that slavery was wrong for William Wilberforce to present to parliament. In his search for evidence Clarkson visited slave ships, talked to the sailors and even collected objects such as thim, screws, which wered used to punish slaves
What part did William Wilberforce play in the civil rights movement?
Wilberforce organised huge petitions against slavery and made passionate speeches in Parliament. He was helped by his friend Thomas Clarkson
