History, Free at last?, Civil Rights in the USA, 1918-1968

Question 1

Between 1901 and 1920, how much did the US population grow by?

Answer 1

39% to over 105 million

Question 2

How many immigrants came to America in this period compared to how many that cam between 1821?

Answer 2

15 million, as apposed to the 20 million.

Question 3

How many states were there in 1919?

Answer 3

48, as apposed to the 50 there are today

Question 4

What can each state’s government do?

Answer 4

Create their own laws concerning aspects of society such as local schools, transport local businesses and justice

Question 5

What could the Federal Government do and where is it based?

Answer 5

It is based in Washington DC and can make laws which affect the whole country. These are federal laws. These laws are passed by the American Congress, and can overrule each states independent authority.

Question 6

What two groups is Congress composed of?

Answer 6

The House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House of Representatives (Congressmen or Congresswomen) represent individual districts within each State. There are two representatives (Senators) from each state in the Senate.

Question 7

When was America created?

Answer 7

1787 after the original 13 states had fought and won a war against Britain.

Question 8

What did Representatives of the 24 states do?

Answer 8

They wanted to create a fair system of government and created a constitution. This was a set of rules on how America was to be governed. It can be altered by having amendments made to it.

Question 9

Who makes decisions about what is and is nor constitutional?

Answer 9

The Supreme Court, the most important court in USA.

Question 10

When did the thirteenth amendment get passed and what does it say?

Answer 10

It passed in 1865 and said slavery was legally abolished in the US.

Question 11

Then was the fourteenth amendment passed and what did it say

Answer 11

it was passed in 1886 and stated everyone born or naturalised in the United States was a citizen of the us and that no state should make laws which reduced the privileges of citizens

Question 12

how did southern states maintain a segregated society

Answer 12

they created Jim Crow laws

Question 13

what did the Supreme Court decide in an 1896 case and how did form the basis of the Jim Crow laws

Answer 13

they decided it was lawful to segregate black and white people and said that this was not meant to imply one race was better than the other. they also said the true equality between blacks and whites was not the aim of the fourteenth amendment. this was to form the basis of the Jim Crow law which spread across the south after 1896. this ruling resulted in segregation not starting to break down until 1954

Question 14

when did southern Staes begin to pass Jim Crow laws and what affect did they have on black lives

Answer 14

they started passing them in the late 1890s and they made it forbidden for black children to attend school with white children and were sent to inferior facilities. blacks had restricted access to public to public places like parks and restaurants. they had separate bathrooms and collected their pay from different locations to white black and whites could not marry and cemeteries had to provide separate graveyards.

Question 15

how were no blacks allowed to vote easily in the 1900s and the south even though they had the constitutional right to do so

Answer 15

in america you must register to vote with your state government, and southern states created voting qualifications which made it difficult for black Americans to vote

Question 16

what voting qualifications did southern states put in place to stop blacks from voting

Answer 16

literacy test, ability to understand and interpret the constitution residency and proper requirements and tax that had to be paid before registering

Question 17

what was lynching

Answer 17

when a group of usually white people would capture and maybe murder soon they believed was guilty of a crime. victims were hanged and mutilated and sometimes burnt. the federal government did little to stop this.

Question 18

what was the ku klux klan

Answer 18

the ku klux klan (kkk) was a patriotic organisation that claimed to be protecting the American way of life. klan member had to native born Americans, white and protestant. they attacked any group they saw as un-american and by 1920a all non-protestants, new immigrants and black were targeted.

Question 19

how powerful was the klan in the 1920s

Answer 19

they could hold large marches through Washington, almost never got arrested and was helped by local officials.

Question 20

what did many black Americans begin doing in the 1918s and onwards

Answer 20

they began the great migration and went north seeking Bette wages jobs and escape from segregation but, many poor whites saw these blacks as unnecessary competition and in 1919 race riots began as a result of racial tensions.

Question 21

what happened to help black Americans in 1896 aft the separate but equal decision from the Supreme Court

Answer 21

several organisations were formed to help improve the lives of blacks and fight segregation

Question 22

who was booker t. Washington and what was his approach to win civil rights

Answer 22

booker t Washington was the son of a slave. he said black people would only achieve an equal place in society if they were educated. he established the Tuskegee institute in Alabama, which become the leading institution of black education in the south. he said black should not antagonise whites by demeaning political and social equality and that the only they would improve themselves would be through hard work and education

Question 23

who was w.e.b. du bois and the NAACP

Answer 23

w.e.b. believed in absolute racial equality. in 1909 he became the first leader of the national association for the advancement of coloured people (NAACP) which has always worked within the legal system for black Americans. du bois disagreed with Washington and condemned his ideas of sacrificing black civil right for acceptance by the white ruling elite. unlike Washington, du bois proposed complete racial equality

Question 24

who was Marcus Garvey and the UNIA

Answer 24

a different solution was negro nationalism which encouraged black culture and pride in being black. the leading spokesman for this movement was the Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey. in 1916 he introduced his universal negro improvement association (UNIA) to New York city. Garvey said that racial bias was so ingrained in whites that it was impossible for them to change their views and he saw all whites as potential klansmen. he also urged blacks to liberate themselves from the surrounding culture and embrace their own heritage. he proves that all black Americans should return to Africa and start their own self-governing republic there. by 1922, the UNIA claimed a membership of 6 million. however, Garvey was found guilty of fraud in 1925 and was later deported.

Question 25

how was world war 2 important for black people

Answer 25

after world war two, the organisations that started before world war 2 eventually led to more organised civil rights movements of the 1950s and 60s. black leaders demanded full recognition for black soldiers within the armed forces. but the black Americans served in segregated units and every army camp had separate facilities for black and white soldiers. this made many talk of double-v campaign, victory in the war and victory for civil rights.

Question 26

who organised a mass protest march on Washington in 1941

Answer 26

a. Philip Randolph, a black trade union leader and demanded an end to segregation and discrimination in he federal government., the armed forces and throughout the country

Question 27

what deal did president Roosevelt make with randolph

Answer 27

in exchange for the cancellation of the march, Roosevelt issued executive order 8802, which stated that there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in the defence industries and in government. this showed that the federal government could take action if enough pressure was put on it.

Question 28

hat organisation was formed in 1942 and played a big role in the 50s and 60s.

Answer 28

the congress fo racial equality (CORE)

Question 29

why did black Americans who belonged to the Nation of Islam refuse to serve in American armed forces

Answer 29

because they believed in complete separation of the races and did not think it was right that black soldiers should fight for white America. the nation fo islam became an important force in the civil right struggle of the 1960s.

Question 30

who took the Topeka board of education to court in 1952 and why

Answer 30

Oliver l. brown from Kansas, because too which school he could send his daughter to. because fo segregation, authorities were saying she attend a school that was further away from home and less well maintained than closer schools intended for white children. he was supported by the NAACP

Question 31

what decision did the Supreme Court end up making regarding the brown v the Topeka board of education case in 1954

Answer 31

they. declared in the filed of public education the doctrine of separate but equal has no place. this meant its 1896 decision was therefore partially reversed - it now ruled that segregated schools did not have a place in modern America. this was an important victory for the civil right movement, but there was still the problem of enforcing desegregation and putting and end to the Jim Crow laws.

Question 32

what did rose parks do in 1955 and what did it make the NAACP do

Answer 32

she refused to give up her seat in a segregated Montgomery bus to a white man, as the law demanded. she was therefore arrested. the NAACP had been waiting for an opportunity such as this to launch a high profile campaign and challenge Alabamas segregation laws. they launched a bus boycott. for months, blacks refused to use the buses in Montgomery. instead they shared cars or walked in order to get about and gained a lot of publicity. black made up 60 -70% of the bus riders in Montgomery and the bus company soon decided if they didn’t desegregate they would go out of business. but the towns leader refuse to give in. the issue was not resolved until December 1956 when the courts decided that Montgomerys buses had to desegregate.

Question 33

what were the effects of the bus boycott

Answer 33

1. on its own the bus boycott only had limited success. it did not end all segregation and Montgomery remained a segregated town
2. the bus boycott showed what could be achieved by organised, peaceful, non-violent protest. it was a legal victory for black Americans and it also showed the economic power of black Americans if they united together
3. the bus boycott was one of the first and most important protest in the campaign for civil rights and had important results for the ciivl rights movement
4. throughout the bus boycott, a young preacher inspired the black population of Montgomery to keep up the pressure for their ciivl rights, his name was Martin Luther king and head to become one of the most famous black leaders of the twentieth century
5. in 1957, Martin Luther king, the reverend Ralph Abernathy and others formed the southern christian leadership conference (SCLC) to campaign for civil rights. the SCLC was to be involved in many of the most famous protests of the early 1960s. Martin Luther king was levelled president of the SCLC in 1960

Question 34

what did the civil rights movement use during the 1950s and early 1960s

Answer 34

they used non-violent, peaceful protests in its campaign against segregation and discrimination. the movements leader was Martin Luther king, a baptist from Montgomery who believed that non-violent civil disobedience was the best weapon in the fight for civil rights.

Question 35

what did the federal court order in 1957 and why

Answer 35

many southern states attempted to ignore the supreme courts decision to end segregation in schools, so the federal court ordered that a group of nine black students be admitted to little rocks central high school in Arkansas. the sates governor ordered the national guard to prevent them from entering and only withdrew the guard when ordered to do so by president Eisenhower and a court order. however, when the students returned to the school, they were met by a white mob which forced their removal for their own safety. Eisenhower had to call in 1000 federal troops to Little Rock in order to protect the students. they stayed for the remainder of the school year.

Question 36

what campaign happened on February 1, in 1960

Answer 36

4 black students sat down and attempted to order some food at a white only lunch counter in Woolworths store in Greensboro, north carolina. they were refused service but remained in their sears until closing they returned the following day with twenty five supporters who continued the ‘sit-in.’ despite protests and attacks from whites. the next day they returned again this time occupying 63 of the 65 seats available. by February 5 there were more than 300 students, black and white taking part in the protest. this protest quickly spread to neighbouring towns. within two months, demonstrations had taken place in 54 cities in nine states. by the end of the year, more than 700,000 protestors had participated in sit-ins across the country. although thousands of students were arrested and physically assaulted, they refused to retaliate and followed matin Luther kings idea of non-violent protest. the student non-violent coordinating committee (SNCC) was created by black student in April 1960 to help coordinate, support and publicise the sit-in campaign.

Question 37

how successful were the sit-ins

Answer 37

1. in many ways, the sit-ins were highly successful. national television coverage highlighted the racist attitudes of many Southerners, while the courage, commitment and sacrifice of the demonstrators won them widespread admiration.
2. some civil rights workers believed that the sit-in showed students that they could take action themselves. young black people realised that they could make a difference to civil rights.
3. by the summer of 1960, many lunch counters in the south had desegregated. however, the sit-ins did not end all segregation in the south and their impact was only felt at a local level. they were only part of a broader national campaign which aimed for an end to segregation and discrimination in the south

Question 38

what did CORE do in may of 1961

Answer 38

sent a group of freedom riders to challenge the south’s Jim Crow laws. along with CORE member were member of the SNCC. travelling on buses, the protesters wanted to see segregation in interstate public facilities had really ended the protesters were men and women, black and white, young and old. anticipating a violent reaction, they were trained by Martin Luther king in the discipline of non-violence. their plan was to seat black and whites together on the buses, a crime in many cities, and to use white and coloured facilities contrary to where they were supposed to go.

Question 39

what happened to the freedom riders in rockville, south carolina

Answer 39

an angry mob attacked the freedom riders when the bus arrived. when they arrived in anniston, Alabama, the ferocity of the mob was so intense the freedom riders did not exit the bus, which left the town. however, the mob had managed to slash the bus’s tyres and quickly overtook it. they surrounded the bus and attacked it with brick, pipes and an axe. finally someone threw a firebomb through a back window. the mov now set about sealing the passengers Indies the bus, and they only fell back when an undercover policeman fired shot from his gun. later that night, a second bus carrying freedom riders arrived in Birmingham, Alabama where it was met by a group of klansmen who savagely beat the freedom riders, reporter and innocent bystanders. the subsequent international news coverage once again deeply shocked the American public. attorney general revert Kennedy was forced to intervene personally to ensure the safety of the riders. Martin Luther king attempted to persuade the riders to stop for fear they would be killed. but the freedom rides continued throughout the summer, as did the violence.

Question 40

how successful were the freedom rides

Answer 40

1. in late 1962, the federal government finally ordered an end to all segregation in airports and rail and bus stations.
2. many people agree that of all the tactics used by the civil rights movement, the freedom riders did the most to increase support for the civil rights movement.
3. the freedom rides, like the sit-ins were successful in making northern white Americans more and more sympathetic towards the cause of civil rights.
4. attacks by the klan and fire-bombed buses were pictured in national newspapers and on television. the situates in the south could not be ignored bu federal government for much longer.
5. a CORE publicity leaflet claimed: “the freedom riders, like the sit-ins before them demonstrated that anyone who opposed segregation…could drive a nail into the coffin of Jim Crow. they helped the spread of cilvil rights through the south.”
6. on the other hand, there is a view that the freedom rides did little to change the real problem, which was that black Americans had little power to change the way the country was run. a commentator in the southern patriot newspaper wrote: “the freedom rides won concessions but not real changes. place hop keep the peace and let us interstate rest room but there will be no revolution until we see negro faces in powerful positions in this country.”
7. like the sit-ins, the freedom rides did not end all segregation and were only part of a broader campaign.

Question 41

what did Martin Luther king describe Birmingham, Alabama as

Answer 41

he said it was the most segregated city in America and had said that it would be ‘the toughest fight of our civil rights career’. governor George Wallace was fundamentally opposed to the civil rights movement - he famously proclaimed ‘segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.’

Question 42

what did the civil rights activist attempt in April 1963

Answer 42

they attempted to draw attention to the condition of race relation in the city by targeting lunch counters in the city and marching through the city. the protestors, including king, were arrested and jailed, but the demonstrations achieve little publicity at first. on may 2nd another march was organised, this time with over a thousand participants led bu school children. king knew that the Alabama police would use violence against a march of this size. his tactics had developed as he realised the importance of television and the media. he hoped to deliberately provoke white racists into displaying their violent hatred of black Americans in public so their actions would be captured on televising and in newspapers and so force federal intervention and new legislation. America watched in shock and disbelief as white officers savagely attacked school children as young as eight, first with powerful fire shoes and then tear gas, fogs and even electric cattle prods. these events brought condemnation from across America and throughout the world, causing public opinion t sowing behind the civil rights campaign. Kennedy was forced to order an end to all segregation in Birmingham.

Question 43

what did Kennedy do about civil rights in June 1963

Answer 43

president Kennedy said on national television: ‘the events in Birmingham have so increased the cries for equality that no talon can choose to ignore them.’ Kennedy introduced a limited civil rights bill to congress, which would have ended discrimination in public facilities and segregation in public schools, while protecting the rights of black voters. however, southern politicians blocked the bill.

Question 44

what happened on august 28, 1963

Answer 44

over 200,000 blacks and whites marched towards the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. this was arguably the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement until that point. it was designed to gain publicity, which it achieved brilliantly. it was the largest civil rights demonstration in American history and four nation television channels broadcast the event live. the speed that Martin Luther ing gave s considered to be one of the most famous and important speeches of the twentieth century. in one of the most memorable passages, he said: ‘even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. it is a dream deep rooted in the American dream… I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed “we hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal”.’

Question 45

what were church bombings

Answer 45

the leaders of the civil rights movement frequently held meetings in churches which quickly became bombing targets for opponents of desegregation. one such attack occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, two weeks after the march on Washington. the blast killed four girls (one of whom was 11years old, the other three were fourteen) who had arrived early for Sunday school. the fib arrested rovers Chambliss, bt despite eyewitness account he received only a short sentence.

Question 46

what did the new president Johnson do after Kennedy was assassinated

Answer 46

johnson was an unlikely supporter of civil rights. he had done little to oppose segregation throughout most of his political life. despite strong opposition from other Southern politicians, Johnson ensured the passing of the most significant piece of civil rights legislation ever to be passed by congress.

Question 47

what did the 1964 act declare

Answer 47

1. racial discrimination in any public place in the United States such as petrol stations, restaurants, hotels and movie theatres, was banned.
2. discrimination on the basis of race religion, national origin or sex was banned in any place emptying more than 25 people
3. any state government that still discriminated against black Americans would face charges in a federal court

Question 48

how important was the civil rights act of 1963

Answer 48

1. the new law did nothing to solve discrimination in housing or give black people a fair and free vote.
2. when commenting on the civil rights act of 1964, Martin Luther king believed that it ‘gave negroes some part of their rightful dignity but without the to it was dignity without strength.’
3. the act did not end fear and discrimination. the kkk still used terror against any black person who tried to use the freedoms that the act was supposed to guarantee
4. however, most people greed that the civil rights act was a big move towards helping black Americans achieve full civil rights.