Development of the Civil Rights movement 1954-60 Flashcards
What were the KKK responisble for?
Lynchings, and its members could be found in the state polics, juiciary and the government.
What percantage of Southern African Americans were registered to vote?
20% although many could not vote due to threats to their employement or violent intimidation.
The 1896 supreme court ruling was…and it meant that…
Plessey vs Fergusson, ruled that segregation was constitutional and legalised having segregated schools.
Brown vs Board 1954 claimed that…
Seperate did not mean equal, meaning that segregation was inherently unequal and psychologically damaging.
More than 100 Southern Congessmen signed…
‘The Southern Manifesto’ which wanted to reverse the Supreme Court decision.
By 1957 how many AA children were still in segregated schools?
2.4 million
By 1957, how many AA children began attending schools that were formerly segregated?
300,000
What happened at Little Rock Arkansas 1957?
- 9 students applied for Little Rock
- Orval Faubus, the governer of Arkansas, sent 250 state troops to surround the school and prevent them from going in.
- The students were told to skip the first day but one of them forgot and got attacked by angry mobs.
- 250 reporters were there and little rock gained publicitiy -Eisenhower ordered Faubus to remove them
- On 24th September, Eisenhower sent 1100 paratroopers to escort the students.
- The troops stayed until te end of the year
How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?
381 days
How many people particioated in the first day of boycott?
20 thousand
How did the city of Montgomery prevent the boycotters from using taxis?
Forced taxis to charge 45 cents for tax which was too expensive for most people.
How did churches help during the bus boycott?
Brought cars to help people get to work
How did white people try to stop the boycott?
- Bombed MLK’s house
- Firebombed the homes of other leaders
- 90 leading figures were arrested
The boycott came to an end on…
20th December 1956 with the Supreme Court ruling against bus segregation.
Who were dixiecrats and what did they do?
- Southern Democrats
- Filibuster: Prolonged debate to delay discussion
Reasons for the boycott’s success
- Well organised: The MIA coordinated the campaign effectively
- Committed to success: The boycott continued despite the threats the boycotters recieved
- Well publicised: Was publicised through church meetings and local newspapers.
- The bus company was hurt financially: The vast majority of its customers were black Americans.
Supreme Court Ruling 1956
- Set out that segregation in buses was unconstitutional - buses should be desegregated.
Significance of MLK leadership
- Always advocated for nonviolent approach
- Was a pastor and preached Christian values of love and humility
- He appealed to people’s shared humanity
- Played an important role in thr bus boycott, helped boost morale
SCLC (The Southern Christian Leadership Conference)
- Set up in 1957 to coordinate church-based protest across the south
- Led by MLK and Ralph Abernathy
- Campaigned against segregation, used nonviolent direct action and secured black and white members
The 1957 Civil Rights Movement
- Aimed to increase black voter registration, make it illegal to obstruct voter registration and allow federal courts to prosecute states that did not guarentee citizen’s voting rights.
Emmett Till
- 14 year old in Mississipi to visit his family
- A white woman said that he made advances towards her, the next night her husband and brother abducted him, beat him, shot him and threw him into the river with weight around his neck. His body was found 3 days later.
- Had an open viewing of the body which fueled widespread shock and outrage
- The murder trial was reported nationwide but the defendant were found not guilty.
White Citizens Council (WCC)
- Set up from 1954 onwards to stop desegregation.
- Had around 60,000 members in the mid 1950s
- Used violent protest but also economic means such as sacking black employees who were involved in the civil rights movement
