Doughton - History 2. Changing developments in the demand for civil rights 1945-1968 Flashcards
Why did the American Civil rights movement spring to life in the mid 20th century?
President Eisenhower 1953-61 was unsympathetic to the black cause, the federal government was led rather than leading in the 1950s.
Responsibility for kick starting the civil rights movement was with the media, the supreme court, white racist bigots and exceptional individuals like MLK
Changing black attitudes
Blacks enjoyed racial integration during the war.
The NAACP membership increased dramatically.
50,000 to 450,000 by the end of the war.
Changing white attitudes
Post wwii there was a growing fear of communism and white southerners were scared of campaigning groups.
Due to an increase of accusations, NAACP was banned in Alabama.
White Americans were becoming more aware of the violence against black people, especially in south. This is down to the development of TVs.
Development of Tvs
1949 - 1 million families had one.
1960 - 45 million families had one.
President Truman.
Following Roosovelt’s death, Truman was now President.
He was an advocate for black rights but still had the trepidation that he’d lose white southern Democrat votes.
President’s committee
Set up commission to advise him on civil rights matters.
Feb 1948 - he sent a message to congress that advised an end to interstate travel,
A law to make lynching a federal crime,
No legislation was passed but he signed both ;
Executive order 9980 ending discrimination in federal employment
Executive 9981 to end desegregation in the armed forces but was later passed in 1948.
None of these got through to congress but he increased black awareness.
Supreme court activism 1950s - Brown vs Topeka Board of education 1954
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Education - Linda Brown
First case to challenge segregation in education was in the South, in Topeka, in West - Kansas.
Linda Brown’s parents wanted her to attend her neighbourhood school but she wasn’t allowed.
The process took 18 months, decision was announced on the 17th May 1954 that segregation in schools was illegal.
Thurgood Marshall was influential.
What arguments were used?
Educational achievement was restricted,
Inconvenient travelling,
desegregation was taking place in other places so…
Positive impacts
1957 - 300,000 black Americans were attending schools that used to be segregated.
Little Rock ‘9’ - 1957
3rd September 1957, hostile crowds met to see the black students enter the school.
75 blacks applied, 50 rejected, 16 changed their mind.
National guard barred the way on the orders of Governor Faubus.
The National guard was removed after meeting with the President Ensenhower which let to riots and violence.
Eisenhower intervened and sent 10,000 troops there and also to escort the students into the school.
President Truman in this
Only the President intervened and used his authority.
This showed the lengths that white southerners would go to, to retain a segregated system.
Why was little rock important?
Because it showed the lengths that white southerners would go to and their repudiation of a segregated system.
Showed the sheer violence.
Eisenhower had right-wing tendencies. If this is the case, why was there progress in education at this time?
Eisenhower acted as he was fearful of law and order, and a concern for the image of American during the Cold War.
Why was the media important?
Allowed people to see the reality of violence and bigotry. Also allowed black activists to portray ideas.
Peaceful Protesting : The Montgomery bus boycott and Freedom riders etc.
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The Montgomery Bus Boycott -1955
Rosa Parks was arrested as she refused to get out of her seat for a black person.
She was arrested, denied mandatory legal advise.
Blacks would then walk to work and refuse to take the bus to boycott the buses.
40,000 blacks didn’t take the bus and it lasted for 381 days.
Significance of the Montgomery bus boycott.
The Montgomery improvement association established to oversee the continuation and maintenance of the boycott and improve race relations.
MLK held a rally in which 7000 attended.
It showed that unity and solidarity and peaceful approach would make them victorious.
Success encourages MLK to consider further action.
Sit-ins - 1960
4 black students from a local college walked into a the Woolsworth store in Greensbro and demanded to be served at the whites only counter.
They trained to not use violence even when being violated.
The next day, 27 people joined them.
The next, 80,
then 300.
70,000 students contributed to this in total.
Significance of sit-ins.
Sales immediately dropped and segregation ended.
SNCC established 1961-64
Companies profits suffered, businesses started to succumb.
Helped to erode the Jim Crow Laws.
Freedom rides - summer 1961.
CORE wanted to test the waters and use interstate form of transportation.
Blacks rode on buses all through summer.
However, in Anniston, Alabama, a bus was attacked and burnt. Whites beat up Freedom riders.
27 Riders from the SNCC and SLCC were jailed.
JFK had to intervene by sending his brother to reconcile with the white mob in Alabama.
300 freedom riders jailed.
Significance of freedom rides.
Showed the narrow-minded racism in the south that still prevailed.
22nd september - interstate commerce commission that issued a regulation that ended racial segregation in bus terminals.
The role of Martin Luther King
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MLK - key details
He was a very religious man who was a co-paster at a church.
Strong advocate for civil rights, one of the most iconic figures in history.
‘We should not be judged by the color of our skin but the content of our character’.
April 4th, 1968 he was sniped lol no scope 360.
SCLC - Southern Christian Leadership conference.
1957-60
King wanted to focus on the Southern situation.
Wanted it to be religiously oriented.
Bus boycott showed non violent action was the most effective approach.
King wanted to organise marches -
Washington march - 20,000 attended, King admitted that the SCLC did little in its first 3 years as it lacked support and organisation.
The Montgomery bus boycott.
(Already described the event)
Why was MLK’s involvement significant? what role did he play?
It was the catalyst for more change. 7000 attended his rally.
There was an overall increase in a democracy.
Who else was involved and significant in the Montgomery bus boycott?
Montgomery womens political council.
Rosa Parks.
NAACP and lawyers.
Media.
Birmingham march 1963
In 1963, there was still no civil rights act that integrated blacks and whites. Alabama were so against desegregation that they closed their parks, playgrounds and swimming pools.
King hoped to mobilise a large part of Birmingham’s black population in planned demonstrations.
Demonstrations began in April, however ‘Bull Connor’ was extremely dogmatic. MLK ignored this and organised a march in which he was later arrested. He wrote ‘letter from Birmingham prison’ during his time in jail.
