CRM Flashcards
1
Q
Background (2)
A
- End racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans
- Based on the notion of non-violent protests such as boycotts, freedom rides, registration drives and marches
2
Q
Organisations
A
- Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
- National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Congress of Racial Equality
3
Q
Civil Resistance
A
Between 1955 and 1968, acts of civil disobedience created crisis situations to which the government was forced to respond to. This highlighted the discrimination African Americans faced.
4
Q
Successful Actions
A
- Montgomery Bus Boycotts
- Greensboro Sit-Ins
- Selma to Montgomery Marches
- The March on Washington
5
Q
NAACP
A
- Formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavour to advance justice for African Americans and eliminate race-based discrimination.
- Political lobbying, publicity efforts and litigation strategies
- Worked through legal system rather than through direct action.
- Thurgood Marshall (part of the team) later became the first African American Supreme Court justice in 1967
- Targeted education inequality. Plessy v Ferguson allowed the “separate but equal” model.
- African American schools were severely underfunded and provided lackluster education
6
Q
Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 1954 (7)
A
- Landmark case that became the cornerstone of other cases.
- Ruled that segregation in schools was no longer allowed
- Little immediate change as the timeframe for desegregation was not created
- Southern Whites: Backlash. Councils created that opposed desegregation
- KKK: INcrease in violence. The lynching of Emmett Till in 1955
- Politicians: Senator Byrd and other Southern Congressmen issued the Southern Manifesto which resisted desegregation
- Eisenhower refused to endorse the Brown decision and felt that protestors wanted too much too soon
7
Q
Significance of Brown (3)
A
- Outlawed racial segregation in schools
- Showed that the Supreme Court was sympathetic to the CRM however de jure didn’t equal de facto change
- No widespread desegregation and 97% of schools were still segregated by 1957
8
Q
MLK and Peaceful Protest
A
- MLK believed peaceful protest would highlight the dignity of the protestors and the barbaric nature of racists. Put moral pressure on govt. to enact change and recognise African Americans
- Formed SCLC in 1957 with other Southern ministers
9
Q
Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-1956
A
- Rosa Parks arrested in December 1955 after refusing to give up her seat on a bus
- Local activists organised a boycott to protest the segregation of public transport
- NAACP was fighting Browder vs Gayle at the same time which challenged racial segregation on public transport.
- MIA formed by MLK. The boycotts were to show the power of growing self-respect to animate the struggle for civil rights
10
Q
Reactions to Boycotts
A
- City penalised black taxi drivers for helping boycotters
- MIA organised meetings with city officials but no agreements were reached
- 80 leaders arrested under 1921 law that prohibited conspiracies against lawful businesses.
11
Q
Results of Bus Boycotts (2)
A
- 1956: Browder v Gayle ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional
- King’s role garnered international attention and nonviolent protest with Christian ethics became the model of protest against segregation in the South
12
Q
Significance of Bus Boycotts (3)
A
- Showed economic power of African Americans as the company lost $250,000 during the boycotts.
- Launched MLK’s career and the SCLC
- Showed effectiveness of peaceful protest
13
Q
Sit-Ins
A
- African Americans wouls sit at counters and they would be refused service.
- They would then remain there and occupy the seat of a would-be paying customer.
- This had a negative economic effect for the business as they lost profit
14
Q
Why Sit-Ins? (2)
A
- Businesses would either throw out offending customers or legislation would be passed to end segregation.
- Greensboro Woolworth sit in. 4 students sat in and eventually had 300 students that gained media attention and forced Woolworths to change its policy
15
Q
Significance of the Sit Ins (3)
A
- Formed SNCC
- Showed nonviolent civil disobedience was effective in enacting change
- Eisenhower was shown to be sympathetic to the CRm
