Raising The Profile Of Civil Rights - Kicking Jim Crow Out Of School

Question 0

In 1949 what did the state of South Carolina spend on educating white and black children?

Answer 0

White child - average of $179

Black child - average of $43

Question 1

Why did the NAACP target education?

Answer 1

Because it was easy to show that while children were being educated separately they were not being educated equally.
Also improving education of AAs was a vital step to improving their general living standards.

Question 4

When was Sweatt Vs Painter

Answer 4

1950

Question 5

What was Sweatt Vs Painter about?

Answer 5

Herman Sweatt was a black student hoping to study law In the southern state of Texas.
Texas education system was segregated, so he was refused admission.
NAACP challenged this and said Sweatt was entitled to equal education of whites as Law School.
The courts in Texas decided to open a new law school for black people.
NAACP took this to supreme court and argued that the new law school was inferior to the whites one. For example it had less books and fewer teachers.

Question 6

What was the outcome of Sweatt vs Painter?

Answer 6

The supreme court agreed with NAACP and ordered Texas law school to accept Sweatt as a student.
Sweatt registered as a student on 19 September 1950

Question 7

What is the significance of Sweatt vs Painter?

Answer 7

It was the NAACP’s first successful challenge to segregation in the south.
Also the success gave them the confidence to keep going and keep fighting against the segregation.

Question 8

When was Brown Vs Board of Education?

Answer 8

1954

Question 9

What happened in Brown Vs Board of Education?

Answer 9

Oliver Brown took state of Kansas to court for failing to provide his daughter Linda with an adequate education.
She was forced to attend the all black school 20 blocks away, whereas she would be better attending the whites school which was much closer.

Question 10

What was the outcome of Brown Vs Board of Education?

Answer 10

After 3 years of legal battles (NAACP took case to supreme court). The supreme court decided that segregation was illegal in American schools.

Question 11

What was the significance of Brown Vs Board of Education?

Answer 11

The court argued that the “separate but equal” of Plessy vs Ferguson 1896 was impossible.
It was impossible for citizens to receive services that were both equal and separate. It ended the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’

Question 12

Why did the supreme court make this decision? (5)

Answer 12

• they argued that segregation had a negative effect on black people
• supreme court recognised that America was changing. Between 1945-1954 AA middle class had undergone lots of growth. Middle class AAs had better knowledge of legal system and were more likely the challenge racial inequality in the court. Supreme court felt under pressure to rule in their favour.
• they recognised that southern states lacked economic resources to raise standard of black schools. Only way to do this was to integrate the schools.
• supreme court recognised that a racist education system did not reflect ideals that America was fighting for in cold war. At least one supreme court judge said that segregated education undermined Americas ability to Champion democracy.
• Chief judge Frederick Moore Vinson died in 1953 and was replaced by Earl Warren. Warren was much more sympathetic to civil rights issues and used to authority in civil right’s favour.

Question 13

Reaction to Brown Vs Board of Education: Black American (3)

Answer 13

Many believed this was the beginning of the end of segregation
Gave the idea that supreme court would back legal challenges made by AAs
Following the case there was an increase in local activism by groups such as NAACP and CORE. Who organised new campaigns against different aspects of segregation.

Question 14

Reaction to Brown Vs Board of Education: Whites (3)

Answer 14

Provoked series of initiatives across the south amp imbed at undermining the ruling.
White citizens council was set up and raised money in order to help schools to become private so that they could avoid desegregating.
They also campaigned for election of southern politicians who were strongly opposed to desegregation.

Question 15

By 1956 how many members did White Citizens Councils have?

Answer 15

250,000

Question 16

Case of Emmett Till

Answer 16

A 14 year old black boy was lynched and beaten in 1955. His murderers were not found guilty by an all white jury in spite of intensive campaigns by NAACP.

Question 17

What did the state of Alabama do in 1956?

Answer 17

They officially outlawed the NAACP and all of its activities. So did many other southern states such as Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida.

Question 18

What was the Southern Manifesto?

Answer 18

Signed in 1956 by senator Harry .F. Byrd and 101 other southern congressmen.
It argued that the courts decision on the Brown case was unconstitutional because the constitution did not even mention education.
It also said that southern states should continue to implement segregation with the ‘separate but equal’ ruling.
It also called on all Americans to resist desegregation by “all lawful means”.

Question 19

What did president Eisenhower do?

Answer 19

(he succeeded Truman in 1953). He refused to comment on the Brown case but in private he criticised the ruling and said that a legal ruling wouldn’t change the hearts of American racists. He believed de jure change was incapable of producing de facto change. All it had done was infuriate white citizens. He also admitted that appointing Earl Warren chief justice was “the biggest damned-fool mistake I ever made”

Question 20

What was the significance of the brown case? (4)

Answer 20

NAACP won a case that struck at the heart of segregation.
It signalled that the supreme court under Earl Warren was sympathetic to the civil rights cause.
It also demonstrated that eisenhower was unwilling to use his presidential power to help black people
It also stimulated massive resistance (KKK, White Citizens Council, southern white politicians, white policemen and judges in local courts all united to oppose desegregation)

Question 21

How many schools had desegregated by 1957?

Answer 21

Only 750 out of 6,300 school districts had desegregated.

Question 22

In 1968 what percentage of southern black children remained in segregated schools

Answer 22

58% of southern black children remained in segregated schools in 1968

Question 23

Why was segregation continued in the first decade after the Second World War? (5)

Answer 23

• many congressmen were opposed to racial integration.
• Eisenhower believed that segregation could not be forced upon the south.
• southern state govs, southern judges and southern police resisted change and uses their power to intimidate campaigners
• southern white racists organised quickly and effectively to ensure that court rulings were ignored.
• finally civil rights organisations such as NAACP and CORE had not yet perfected their methods.

Question 24

How many congressmen signed the southern manifesto?

Answer 24

Almost a fifth of all congressmen signed the manifesto.

Question 25

What was the Brown 2 case about?

Answer 25

In the first year de jure victory had resulted in little de facto change. Consequently, NAACP asked supreme court to establish a timetable for desegregating schools. In response the supreme court supreme court produced Brown 2 ruling.

Question 26

What did the Brown 2 ruling state?

Answer 26

It stated that desegregation should occur with all deliberate speed. This decision pleased no one.
NAACP thought it was too vague.
Southern racists thought it was another attack on segregation.

Question 27

Why was there still segregation during the first decade after the second world war? (5)

Answer 27

• Many within US congress were opposed to racial integration (e.g southern manifesto)
• Pres Eisenhower believed that desegregation could not be enforced upon the south
• Southern state govs, judges and police resisted change used their power to intimidate campaigners
• Southern white racists organized quickly and effectively to ensure court rulings were ignored
• civil rights organizations had not yet perfected their methods

Question 28

What percentage of African American Children were still in segregated schools by 1957

Answer 28

97%