the quest for civil rights Flashcards

1
Q

slavery

A

oppressed - no rights whatsoever
17th century first slaves
american revolution brought independeence and rights (not to Black Americans)
19th century abolished in north
civil war - 13th amendment abolished slavery

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2
Q

reconstruction

A

25 years following civil war attempted to improve and make fairer society
14th amendment - citizenship rights
15th amenment - voting rights for all

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3
Q

racism in the south - Jim crow laws

A

1810-1910 southern states introduced legal segregation
passing local laws denying rights to black community

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4
Q

segregated heart

A

segregation matter of mind
socialised into minds of younger generations
rules followed e.g., never inviting black into dining room
white supremacy

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5
Q

racism in the south ‘the good old-time n**’

A

black communities stereotyped as happy to serve whites and satisfied with place in society
whites relied on blacks for domestic tasks

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6
Q

racism in the south - voting rights

A

15th amendment gave voting rights to all
ways around the law
grandfather clause - could only vote if grandfather did (slavery meant many couldnt)
literacy test - had to pass test, set to give black disadvantage

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7
Q

racism in the south - Ku Klux Klan

A

terrorist black communities in the south
extremist white supremacists
the birth of a nation - grossed $10 million (viewed as heroes)
held power as senior justice members (injustice for blacks)

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8
Q

impact of the great migration 1917-32 (northern cities)

A

by 1920 - 40% of African Americans in north living in 5 cities (e.g., chicago and Detroit)
mostly industrial towns - drawn for work and escape (offered housing, better wages and free transport during WW1)
cities e.g., New York - black population evenly spread gaining less political power compared to cities designed with voting wards (still had separate communities)

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9
Q

great migration 1917-32 (African Americans in the north)

A

most migrant’s poor, even skilled workers made to take unskilled, low paying jobs
mostly lived in crowded and run down in poorer side of city
could vote and were elected to federal and local governments
gained significant political power in cities that coincided with voting wards (e.g., Chicago)

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10
Q

great migration 1917-32 (African Americans in southern cities)

A

tendancy for those who stayed to accept Jim crow laws
some trapped due to debt (new form of slavery)

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11
Q

great migration 1917-32 (southern cities)

A

poorest farmers suffered most (mostly black)
labour force shrank and farming areas ran into economic issues

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12
Q

push factors of great migration

A

Jim crow laws
literacy tests and grandfather clause - difficult to vote
KKK terrorised south - 1918 11 lynched in Georgia
excessive dependency of economy on cottom crop and overproduction meant slump in cotton prices (e.g., 1913-15 and 20) - lower wages

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13
Q

pull factors of great migration

A

better jobs and pay (still 50% less than white pay)
little legal segregation
easier to vote
during WW1 factory worker could earn much more than in south ($3 vs 75 cents)
north offered more opportunities for economic advances

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14
Q

impact of New deal on civil rights - progress

A

black americans more actively involved in government (about 50 in various branches ‘the black cabinet’)
Mary McLeod - member of black cabineet (prominent figure)
number of blacks employed by government rose (50,000 in 1933 - 200,000 in 1945)
provided 1 million jobs and training for 500,000

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15
Q

impact of new deal - deterioration

A

CCC - forced segregated camps and paid black people lower
AAA - also named ‘negro removal act’ - federal cuts to production meant landlords could evict many black farmers
2 million black farmers forced off land during agricultural reforms - often sacked to make room for white workers

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16
Q

impact of new deal - stagnation

A

roosevelt failed to support anti-lynching bills
did very little to eliminate unfair hiring practices and discriminatory job conditions
farm and domestic workesr left out of policies (60% black workers north and 75% south)
no minumum wage/ improved conditions

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17
Q

impact of new deal - African American protest

A

support from communists - north demanded relief funds be allocated equally (would take court cases when NNACP wouldnt)
black church organisations set up support groups (e.g., peace mission church group - shops selling goods at lower costs than white shops)
women organisations (housewives league of Detroit) - ‘dont buy where you cant work’ campaign

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18
Q

impact of WW2 - gains

A

need for soldiers meant that navy was one of 1st war institutions to desegregate
jobs created in north in defence industries - jobs created especially for black women
sped up movement already occuring
Roosevelt set up fair employment practice commission - helped prevent discrimination against African Americans in defence and government jobs
inspired native american movement (formed national congress of american indians)
bracero movement - gave mexican guarenteed employment in USA when they joined war
americans involvement in war questioned - hypocritical (HITLER)

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19
Q

WW2 - limitations

A

segregation enforced in army - e.g., red cross forced to segregate black and white blood when treating injuries
discrimination prevelent - blacks paid less, whites would walk out when blacks promoted to position of authority
places dominated by blacks tended to have worse facilities
native americans culture viewed with distaste
Bracero agreement carried on to benefit americans (cheap labour) - reappealed 1964

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20
Q

Impact of Truman on civil rights

A

proposed antilynching, anti-segregation, fair employment laws (failed to push to congress)
urged strong federal support on civil rights
1948 - desegregated military and businesses working for government (election year - wanted black vote)
shocked at racist outbreakes towards returning soldiers

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21
Q

legal challenges - Plessy vs Ferguson (1896)

A

Jim crow laws unconstitutional and therefore illegal
14th amendment - citizenship rights
arrested for sitting in whites only area
creation of doctrine of ‘seperate but equal’ - judges ecided segregation was lawful as long as all had access to equally good facilities

22
Q

legal challenges 1917-55 - NAACP

A

national association for the advancement of coloured people
aimed to tackle discrimination and racial inequality
methods involved: legal actions, speeches, organisations (rallies)
Thurgood Marshall vital member (chief lawyer) - brown vs board of education, gave blacks a fighting chance with good lawyer

23
Q

Legal challenges 1917 - 55 Morgan vs Virginia (1946)

A

challenged segregation on interstate buses
Morgan fined for not moving for white man (violating constitutional rights)
supreme court rules segregation on buses illegal

24
Q

COREs journey of reconciliation (1946)

A

CORE - congress of racial equality
no desegregation occured despite ruling
de jure (changing law)
de facto (changing mindsets - actual change in society)
de jure - legal change no enfored
16 CORE activists travelled on bus from north to south in opposite segregated positions
12 arrested (failed to force desegregation in south
however, still brought public attention to cause

25
Q

Legal action 1917-55 Brown vs Board of education (1954)

A

Browns daughter went to school 20 blocks away - wanted to send her to local white school
after 3 years battling supreme court - they decided segregation of schools was illegal
marked end of doctrine of seperate but equal
didnt effectively change system immediately - in 10 yrs only 1/100 black student going to integrated school

26
Q

strengths of legal challenges

A

legally ended segregation and doctrine of seperate but equal
large steps to equality in large institutions (e.g.,, education)
NAACP legal challenges brought growing attention and membership (by 1942 had 450,000)
1939 - 50,000
Thurgood Marshall - significant figure
lynching in decline by 1955 - NAACPs lynching investigation squad
increased speed of movement - improved confidence

27
Q

limitations of legal challenges

A

de jure vs de facto - mindsets not changed
no key figures for inspiration
no media attention to publicise issues across America
took long time

28
Q

The case of Emmet Till (1955)

A

brutal murder of young boy by white man
created oublic outrage - open casket funeral spread through media and thousands came to see open casket (see evidence of brutal hate crime)
allowed people to see extent of brutality in America because of hate crimes
black people and women not allowed on jury (all white all male jury)
all involved acquitted of charges

29
Q

Martin Luther King Jr

A

led direct action campaigns and non-violent protests
religious paster - injustive against God’s will (gained white supporters)
southern christian leadership conference (SCLC) - reached out to religious leaders and individuals
media conscious - created best possible image
non violent
hard working and speeches
used time in jail for publicicty and wrote articles

30
Q

March on Washington (1963)

A

attended by estimated 250,000 people
protesting racial discrimination and showing support for civil rights legislation that was pending in Congress
powerful ‘I have a dream speech - ability to bring people together for cause
successful in pushing for strong federal action for the civil rights movement

31
Q

Southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Montgomery Bus Boycott - 1955)

A

Dec 1955 - Rosa Parks refused to move on bus (dignified member of NAACP) - NAACP took case and MLK chosen as leader
lasted 380 days
75% bus users were black 90% stayed away from buses
kept peaceful even when houses firebombed, people lost jobs and people arrested
boycott gained too much publicity and court had to act (ruled segregation as unconstitutional)
hardened racial divide (whites felt attacked)

32
Q

Southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Little rock high school - 1957)

A

9 children selected to attend previously white school (directly accompanied by NAACP to school)
MLK saw photos of 1 of the kids being turned away by national guard and screamed at by mobs
MLK met with Eisenhower to discuss political damage that this caused and urged federal action (reluctantly sent troops to protect kids at school and home)
children subject to years of taunts and violence
inspired similar action across the south
Homes of NAACP firebombed

33
Q

Southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Greensboro sit in - 1960)

A

4 black students entered Greensboro department store and waited to be served at segregated lunch counter
kept waiting until store shut - next day 30 students joined them - day after nearly all seats occupied by black students
heckled by whites and media filled with images of calm, well-dressed black students waiting to be served
issue wasnt education, housing, or schooling, it was freedom and equality for Black Americans n their daily lives

34
Q

southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Birmingham - 1963)

A

Protest in Birmingham (nicknamed Bombingham) - MLK wanted to desegregate whole town
3rd April began - by end of month jails full (tactic used)
Kennedy saw photos of high-pressure hoses and dogs being used on kids protesting (announced he felt ashamed)
sent in troops to bring peace and order
Birmingham deegregated and media catalysed movement
kennedy pushed forward on the civil rights legislation

35
Q

Southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Freedom summer 1964)

A

SNCC (student non-violvent coordinating committee)
pushing for voter registration in the south
send mostly white, young and those able to afford journey and possible bail volunteers to south to encourage voter registration (teaching black americans to pass voting tests etc)
45 sent
6 killed by end of summer (countless arrests and shootings)
170,000 registered to vote only 1600 accepted

36
Q

Southern based campaigning 1955-68 (Selma Campaign - 1965)

A

MLKs participation raised awareness (media) of the need for national voting rights act - only 2% of registered black voters in Selma managed to register to vote
Bloody Sunday - began march (600) met with extreme violence (whips and tear gas) by state troopers - broadcasted internationally (48 million watched) drawing in more support
civil rights and religious leaders (morality issue) came in support for civil rights movement
MLK led more than 2000 - Johnson felt compelled to act, so broadcasted support and call for new voting rights bill
almost 50,000 supporters met in Montgomery (that august voting rights act passed - one of most expansive civil rights acts, helped closing rracial divide)

37
Q

emergence of black power - what is black power

A

revolutionary black movement of 1960s and 70s focused on racial pride and creation of political organisaitons
used force for immediate change - radicalised movement
used force for immediate change - radicalised movement
raised arm clenched fist symbol of black (1968 Olympics used by medallists)
goals of racial integration

38
Q

emergence of black power - Malcolm X

A

family terrorised by KKK - father murdered (Malcolm spent time in prison) - became muslim
one of first to stir up black militancy in black Americans
believed non-violence was no longer doing enough for movement
white people shouldnt be involved in movement

39
Q

emergence of black power - Charmichaael

A

leader of SNCC (student non violent coordinating committee)
believed not enough was being done by using non-violence - wanted to radicalise

40
Q

emergence of black power - black panthers (1966)

A

rose from increase concern of police violence (founded by Newton, Seale, Cleaver) - believed blacks should act aggressively in defence to protect rights
wore uniforms and carried guns
aided black communities including 10-point programme (full employment, decent housing) and working on projects (free breakfasts for school kids)
influenced future of movement: students pushing for more black history courses, trade unions, radicalised other civil rights groups (e.g., NAACP)
heroes to many - threat to FBI (J Edgar Hoover) campaign to neutralise Black Panthers
group disbanded in late 1970s

41
Q

stenghts of black power movement

A

black panthers improved communities’ lives with free healthcare for poor and free meals for kids etc
inspired others as they were seen as heroes
showed African Americans wouldnt stand the treatment they received

42
Q

black power movement - limitations

A

Malcolm X closed off to help from whites - widening racial divide and wouldnt be able to gain significant political strength
Malcolm X split up black community - different organisations - non-violence supporters
No coherent force for black movement in 60s with groups having varying power
aggression gave white racists a reason to hinder movement

43
Q

Northern crusade 1966 - causes (riots of the 60s)

A

1966 - major riots in 20 cities (e.g., Chicago and New York) due to police brutality and long-term issues (housing and employment)
government intervention seen as necessary and acceptable - white backlash to civil rights (particularly north)
media - images of non-violent black people replaced by images of burning cities and black people with petrol bombs

44
Q

Northern crusade (1966) - Civil rights act (1964)

A

outlawed segregation in south - did little to addresss discrimination in north as segregation never legal

45
Q

northern crusade (1966) - Moynihan report 1965

A

became focus of northern crusade - study of economic position of Black americans (drew attention to high levels of crime within black communities and poor living conditions)
Ghettoisation led to de facto segregation of education and housing

46
Q

Northern crusade - the chicago freedom movement (1966)

A

Aims - challenge de facto segregation of Chicago’s housing and employment and schooling
Methods - non-violent direct action (peaceful protests), targeted segregated housing and all white areas
Failures - extremely unprepared and lacked support (30,000 attended rather than 100,000) , heatwaves led to black communities using fire hydrants causing more riots when these were turned off
King forced to compromise and restrict future marches and Chicago promised to respect fair housing laws (promises ignored following re-election)

47
Q

Northern crusade - The poor peoples’ campaign (1968)

A

Aims - campaign for better living standards and end ghettos
Methods - failure of chicago movement taught him to radicalise campaign, coalition created including minority groups to tackle problems, Nationwide civil disobedience - occupying government buildings, boycotting businesses, march on washington
demanded federal budget $30 billion annuually to tackle poverty and promise to commitment to full employment building half a million homes yearly
Failures - Johnson didnt support, Vietnam war created divide between civil rights radicals and liberal politicianns, war diverted resources from civil rights campaigning

48
Q

impacts of presidents - Eisenhower

A

believed position of blacks would improve naturally and didnt think it was governments job to improve conditions
legislation
1957 civil rights act - created commission on civil rights establishment to monitor voting rights (penalities for preventing act - only small and didnt act as deterrant)
heavily oppressed in congress - acts only increased proportion of black voters 3% (1966)

49
Q

Impact of presidentss on civil rights - Kennedy

A

sympathetic towards plight of black americans during campaign - promised civil rights act to end segregation
slow to use powers to advance racial equality (needed support from white souther politicians in congress)
created committee on equal employment opportunity (CEEO) for federel government - very few employed so not large impact
growth of liberalism

50
Q

impact of presidents on civil rights - Johnson

A

before presidency had mixed record on civil rights
during presidency saw civil rights act as part of range of measures known as ‘great society’ - designed to make America fair
legislation
civil rights act (1964) - outlawed segregation
voting rights act (1965) - outlawrs all tests preventing any american from voting
education act (1965) - increased funding for education, targeting poorest schools, areas, etc
fair housing act (1968) - outlawed discrimination in sale and rental of housing