Mississippi Freedom Summer

Question 1

When was Mississippi Freedom Summer?

Answer 1

1964

Question 2

What was the focus of the Mississippi Freedom Summer?

Answer 2

• To increase black voter registration
• A state with low number of black voters and high KKK membership

Question 3

What was the strategy of the Mississippi Freedom Summer?

Answer 3

• White middle class volunteers were sent to draw attention
• Potential white deaths would generate more negative headlines than black deaths

Question 4

What happened in the Mississippi Freedom Summer?

Answer 4

• Most notorious: arrest of three white campaigners by a KKK police officer, then the murder of the three by the KKK

Question 5

To what extent was the Mississippi Freedom Summer impactful?

Answer 5

• To a minor extent
• Voter registration numbers rose
• Widespread and negative publicity benefited the civil rights movement
• Led to predicable deaths
• Many blacks at ground level resented the focus of white deaths
• Drove some people towards more militant black power groups