Education Flashcards
1
Q
What happened in the Brown v Board of Education case?
A
- 1952 - NAACP take 5 desegregation cases to the Supreme Court
- They proved that seperate WAS NOT equal
- Earl Warren replaces pro-segregation judge in December 1952
- May 1954 - Sepreme Court ruled that “seperate but equal” had no place in education
- May 1955 - Supreme Court called for desegregation
2
Q
Why was Brown successful?
A
- Southern states began to desegregate schools
- Plessey case was reversed
- Led to many further legal victories
3
Q
Why was Brown unsuccessful?
A
- Threats and violence to black children increased
- Some Southern governors pledged to keep segregation
- White Citizens Council set up in Mississippi to keep segregation
- White parent groups were unhappy and protested
- KKK membership grew
4
Q
Long term effects of Brown vs Topeka:
A
- More awareness of civil rights
- Black students faced hostility in integrated schools
- Many whites moved away from areas with a high black population
- Desegregation was very patchy and slow
- Many black teachers lost their jobs and struggled in integrated schools
5
Q
How did white people oppose integration?
A
White Citizens Council:
- Grew rapidly and campaigned against desegregation
- Violence escalated
- Threatened families
Political Opposition:
- Senator Harry Byrd demanded resistance
- Prince Edward county in Virginia closed all schools
- Schools were slow to integrate
- Some schools segregated within the school and gave admission tests to black students which were unfair.
6
Q
What happened at little rock? (1)
A
- School desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas up to 1957 – only 9 black students applied and chose to go
- Actions of Orval Faubus – Arkansas governor sent troops to prevent black students from entering the school
- Daisy Bates (NAACP) – arranged for students to arrive at school together
- Elizabeth Eckford – missed the message and arrived alone, subjected to abuse from white mob – famous picture
7
Q
What happened at Little Rock? (2)
A
- Publicity – pictures/TV seen worldwide
- President Eisenhower’s orders – ordered Faubus to remove the state troops
- The outcome - Eisenhower sent federal troops to control the situation and the nine black students attended school
- May 1958 and September 1959 – Faubus closed all the schools for a year before being forced by parents to open the again
8
Q
Why was Little Rock important?
A
- It forced President Eisenhower to take action
- It led to the Civil Rights Act in 1957
- Drew worldwide attention