Freedom Summer 1964 Flashcards
“Freedom Summer”
1964- SNCC and CORE set it up in Mississippi. About 1000 volunteers went to work with local campaigners on projects in the black community
1964
Election year. Voter registration was important to campaigners and it was important to gain more black voters
The volunteers
Most were white college students from good families who were chosen because of their money. Their class and colour meant violence against them would make bigger news.
“Freedom Schools”
Where some volunteers taught black children how to pass the voter registration tests.
White Mississippians reaction to “Freedom Summer”
Called the project an invasion, arguing Northern students didn’t understand the South.
KKK in Mississippi’s reaction to “Freedom Summer”
Over 1000 members in Mississippi. Expressed anger by burning 61 crosses and in the summer burned 37 black churches and 30 houses. Also beat volunteers and local black people.
Effects of white retaliation on black people (from Freedom Summer)
Many black people lost jobs for participating in meetings. About 17,000 black people tried to register, only 1600 were successful.
Events of 21st June 1964 (Mississippi murders)
Michael Schwerner (white core field worker), Andrew Goodman (a white volunteer), and James Chaney (a black CORE worker) were arrested while driving to Schwerner’s house and were released that evening. Later murdered by the KKK.
CORE and SNCC response to Mississippi murders
CORE and SNCC members searched for their bodies and found the car (a burnt wreck) on 23 June. Also found the bodies of 8 black men, 3 were CORE members. Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner not found until the 4th of August. They’d been shot which created another scandal.
Successes of Freedom Summer
1000 volunteers went to Mississippi with campaigners
White support from college students
Freedom Schools set up
Helped many to pass voter registration tests
Failures of Freedom Summer
Reaction of Mississippians
Many black people lost jobs
Beatings and violence
Only 1600 out of 17000 registered successfully
Mississippi murders
