How far was Eisenhower’s presidency a turning point for African American civil rights? Flashcards
Was Eisenhower a Republican or Democrat?
Republican
Where was he born?
-born in an all-white town in the South
What did he have a fear of?
miscegenation (mixing racial groups)
What was Eisenhower worried about?
-worried about emotional strain of desegregation in schools
-ideologically opposed to large-scale federal intervention eg refused to re-establish the FEPC (equality for workers)
-wary of splitting up the party so conservative with policy decisions
-met once with black leaders (King, Wilkins and Randolph)
Who was the one black member of staff and how did it impact Eisenhower?
-had one black member of staff->Frederic Morrow (ex-NAACP worker)->with the black vote in the presidential election in mind he arranged parking spaces for staffers->Eisenhower never consulted him on civil rights
What was he less inclined than Truman about?
-less inclined than Truman to promote civil rights but more turning points happened during his administration than any other
What were the key events in his presidency?
-Brown vs Board 1954
-murder of Emmett Till 1955
-Montgomery Bus Boycotts 1955
-Little Rock 1957
-Sit ins and Freedom Rides 1961
-Birmingham Protest 1963
-March on Washington 1963
What were the 2 most important events for Eisenhower?
-Brown vs Board 1954->settled a precedent for desegregation
-Little Rock 1957->showed how Eisenhower was forced to intervein and send troops to protect the students->no real turning back for civil rights after this->quickens process of school desegregation
What was the impact of Brown vs Board?
-overturned Plessy vs Ferguson and symbolises the end of Jim Crow->sets a precedent for desegregation of life
What was the impact of the murder of Emmett Till?
-used his death to drive civil rights progress->worlds media attended the funeral to raise awareness and pressure US presidents->international pressure for AA rights->cold war going on
What was the impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts?
-peaceful protest so hard to argue with-> AAs refused to get on the buses->losing money/proved economic power-> enabled them to campaign and push their agenda->leads to Supreme Court ordering desegregation due to Brown vs Board setting a precedent
What was the impact of Little Rock?
-Eisenhower was forced to intervene by sending troops to protect the AA students->showed he would back Brown vs Board->critical for desegregation in schools ->no real turning back for civil rights after this->quickens process of school desegregation
What did Sit ins and Freedom rides, the Birmingham Protest and the march of Washington lead to?
the passing of the new Civil Rights Act
