Progress In The 1960s Flashcards
What was the Greensboro sit-in?
In February 1960, four black university students sat at the segregated lunch counter. When the staff refused to serve them, they refused to leave.
Over the next days, there was over 300 students working in shifts - black, white, male and female.
How was peaceful protests organised?
In April 1960, SNCC was set up to promote non-violent protest. It built on the principles of:
- Demonstrate peacefully and visibly
- Do not rise to provocation
- Show your opponent up as a violent oppresor.
What was the significance of Greensboro?
- Many white southerners joined CORE and SNCC
- The number of protesters ended very high - this meant that it was a highly visible protest which was difficult to ignore.
- Everything was open to media attention
- They demonstrated the importance of publicity.
What were the Freedom Riders?
In May 1961, CORE activists rode buses from the North to the deep South to test if desegregation was actually happening. Their aim was to spark a crisis - and politicians, KKK and WCC members were strongly against the riders.
What happened on the Freedom Rides in May 1961?
Anniston May 1961:
Over 100 KKK members surrounded the bus, slashing it’s tires and smashing the windows, and when the bus left it was chased by a mob. The same happened to riders on a second bus.
This served as an immense embarrasment to the government.
What was the James Meredith case?
In 1962, James Meredith re-applied to the University of Mississippi having been rejected in May 1961.
The NAACP challenged his rejection, and the supreme court ordered the university to admit him - they refused. In September, Meredith returned to register accompanied by around 500 federal officials, and they were attacked by a large mob. Meredith eventually registered in October, 1962.
Why was there major progress from 1960-62?
Organisation, Commitment, Publicity
The Federal government were forced to act when protesters kept going, or when racist violence was provoked. Protesters also kept up their protests despite threats, violence, and going to jail.
What was the campaign in Birmingham?
Campaign “C” began in April 1963. It included sit ins, mass meetings, peaceful marches and a boycott of shops.
Birmingham was targeted as it has a highly segregated area, where blacks often faced violence.
What happened at the Birmingham campaigns?
- 2 May - around 6000 young black people marched and over 900 of them were arrested.
- 3 May - more people marched but jails were full, meaning “Bull” Conner (the police chief) ordered the police to use dogs and hoses on the protesters.
What were the consequences of the Birmingham campaigns?
News reports and photos were spread worldwide, causing global horror and bringing shake to Kennedy. The USSR used this as Cold War ammounition.
Protesters learnt that encouraging violence would work, as it gave them sympathy and publicity. Civil rights opponents learnt that violence against protesters would escalate the situation and earn them more opponents.
What was the March on Washington?
It took place in August 1963, and was at the time the largest political gathering in US history. It was a peaceful protest which was broadcasted worldwide, and MLK spoke last which signified him as the spokesman of the civil rights movement.
Why was the March on Washington significant?
- It highlighted support for the Civil Rights Movement from across the nation
- It was broadcasted globally on television
- King’s speech was powerful as it earned support and almost signified him as leader of the movement.
- The crowd was important as both black and white people from all classes took part, and many famous figures attended.
What was the Freedom Summer?
In 1964, the Freedom Summer was set up by CORE and SNCC in Mississippi.
Around 1000 volunteers worked with local campaigners on projects in the black community to help register more black people to vote.
What was the opposition to the Freedom Summer?
Many white people considered the movement an “invasion” and argued that the Northern volunteers did not understand the circumstances in the South.
Many black people lost their jobs due to involvement in the summer. Around 17000 blacks registered to vote that year (1964) and only 1600 succeeded.
What were the Mississippi Murders?
On 21 June 1964, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman were arrested while driving home. They were released later that evening and murdered while driving by the KKK. Their bodies were not discovered until 4 August, along with 8 other black men.
