JFK: civil rights and Kennedy’s response Flashcards
1
Q
Kennedy and the black vote
A
- Kennedy never going to get southern democrat votes as he sought black vote (politically risky)
used executive power effectively:
- created 5 black fed judges (Thurgood Marshall)
- Bobby K at justice dept. brought 57 suits against violations against black voting rights compared to Eisenhower’s 6 in 8 years
created Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):
- 1961: Andrew Katcher became first black employee in white house press office
- Kennedy’s call to King’s wife Coretta after Atlanta sit-in where King was arrested
2
Q
Civil rights by the end of Eisenhower’s presidency
A
- success of Brown, Montgomery Boycott, and Little Rock hadn’t been maintained in Eisenhower’s last years
- NAACP continued to win cases but movement seemed stagnated
- 1957: King had founded own organisation, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
- King knew he needed new tactic: non-violent protests and promotion through black churches was getting resistance
3
Q
Sit-ins in Eisenhower’s presidency
A
- began 1st Feb 1960
- young people began to protest with lack of progress: lacked financial commitments of adults and were willing to put themselves in danger but lacked legal authority
- Students would go to a segregated restaurant sit in the whites-only and ask to be served
4
Q
reaction to sit-ins in Eisenhower’s presidency
A
- electrified the movement
- 50,000 students in 30 venues across 7 states replicated the protest
- drew media attention and white opposition
- tactic became well established by JFK: used as part of campaigns (Albany, Birmingham, Selma)
- birthed SNCC
- Eisenhower sympathised with the students but it was Kennedy who made the most political capital
5
Q
The Freedom Rides
A
- spring 1961
- CORE sought to push the movement further
- attempted to integrate bus travel
- in north buses were integrated but segregated in south (despite Morgan V. Virginia 1946 and Boynton V. Virginia 1960)
- 13 riders: 7 black, 6 white
- Washington to New Orleans
- prompted violence (Anniston)
- TV broadcasts of beaten riders: Jim Zwerg, James Pech
6
Q
Response to the freedom rides
A
- Bobby Kennedy (Attorney) called for cooling off period but rides continued
- huge media attention
- forced democrat governor of Alabama (John Patterson) to protect riders
- Robert Kennedy demanded the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) enforce their own ruling on desegregated buses
- 1st Nov 1961: ICC issued end to segregated interstate travel facilities
7
Q
The Albany Campaign
A
- November 1961
- success of sit-ins led to SNCC to think bigger
- Charles Sherrod, Cordell Reason, Charles Jones went to Albany
- campaign lacked focus on sit-ins by targeting numerous public places
- came int oconflict with other civil rights groups and police chief Laurie Pritchett
- Pritchett saw provoking violence led to media attention and presidential involvement - instructed officers to:
- police marches carefully
- contact local jails in 40 mile radius so there’s space
- Treat King with care
8
Q
Results of Albany Campaign
A
- Pritchett’s tactics frustrated SNCC and protests stagnated - local groups invited king which made SNCC feel he stole their glory
- King was arrested in the march: when offered $178 fine or jail he chose jail
- Pritchett arranged for King’s fine to be paid to cause less media attention
- Charles Sherrod and SNCC stayed (King left): within a year Albany’s facilities were desegregated
9
Q
James Meredith and Ole Miss
A
- James Meredith: served in US Air Force 1951-60
- Series of NAACP court cases, attempts by D Governor of Mississippi Ross Barnett to prevent his entry: successfully enrolled October 1st 1962
- Riots followed: 2 killed, Bobby K had 500 Marshalls and army to maintain order, a third of them were injured
- Meredith graduated August 1963, with degree in political science
- once again K stood up for AAs in south
10
Q
Governors in the south
A
- southern governors saw political advantage in continued opposition to CRM
- June 1963: George Wallace DG of Alabama, blocked access of 2 black students to University of Alabama that had already been integrated
- ‘Stand in the Schoolhouse Dorr’ forced executive into actions as Kennedy federalised the Alabama National Guard to force Wallace to step aside
11
Q
Birmingham: context
A
- April 1963
- lessons from Albany prompted campaign by SCLC in Birmingham
- Birmingham: most racist city in south, KKK activity, midst mayoral election where Albert Boutwell had defeated segregationist commissioner of public safety Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor (he allowed Klan to beat freedom riders in 1961)
12
Q
Events of Birmingham 1963
A
- marches, sit-ins and boycotts
- SCLC lacked money to cover King’s bail after he was arrested
- in jail, King wrote the ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ in response to a news article condemning the protests
- Kings wife contacted Kennedy admin and king was released 20th April 1963
- king’s absence caused campaign to stagnate
- SCLC organiser James Bevel proposed to use young children in demonstration because they were media friendly
- king was uneasy but agreed to plan: had an amazing effect as the police were directed to arrest children and attack them with dogs if necessary
13
Q
Results of Birmingham
A
- images of men, women and children being attacked made front page news worldwide
- political pressure and economic damage resulted
- bob K sent Burke Marshall (Chief civil rights assistant ) to negotiate
- agreement was reached to start desegregating facilities
- King’s motel was bombed and Kennedy was forced to act: ordered 3,000 troops into position near Birmingham, made plans to federalise Alabama National guard for desegregation
- 4 months later (15th September): KKK bombed Birmingham’s 16th street baptist church, killing 4 young girls
14
Q
The March on Washington: dates, aims and events
A
- 28th August 1963
- envisaged by Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph
- co-organised with ‘Big Six’ leaders: James Farner (CORE), Roy Wilkins (NAACP), Whitney Young (Urban League), Randolph (Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters)
- goal: to further increase pressure on Kennedy Admin and highlight economic prejudice faced by AAs
- chant ‘For Jobs and Freedom’
- over 200,000 marchers at Washington DC (peaceful)
- Largest civil rights rally in US history
- I have a dream speech by MLK
15
Q
The March on Washington: response and results
A
- Kennedy initially wary of march, feared potential violence
- when clear the organisers planned to go ahead regardless, Kennedy endorsed the march: ensured 19,000 troops were stretched along suburbs
- no marchers arrested
- attended by many celebrities: Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Jackie Robinson
