The US civil rights movement and its influence on Australia (aims and methods of the movement)

Question 1

give an example on how it influenced australia

Answer 1

The US civil rights movement had an enormous impact on Australia. The most obvious example is how Charles Perkins and SAFA copied the US Freedom Rides, which were sparked by African American woman, Rosa Parks, who fought for equality on the state transport (bus) system. In refusing to give up her seat, she started what would become a landslide of protest from both African Americans, but also mainstream America - The Montgomery Bus Boycott.

It had a huge influence in Australia, the arrival of television helped to create great media publicity that took the civil rights struggle to the world.

Question 2

who were the two influential mmbers and what rights did they want to achieve

Answer 2

It was a long and bitter fight for freedom that split America, as civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and the Black Panthers used different methods to gain basic freedoms and equality, such as the right to attend public school, universities/colleges and improve the general socio-economic position of African Americans.

Question 3

what were the aims of the movements

Answer 3

desegregation, changes in law (to guarantee rights and freedoms of black Americans), improve economic situation, end discrimination against black Americans, to be able to vote.

Question 4

what were the methods of the movements

Answer 4

marches; speeches; raising mainstream public awareness/consciousness (March on Washington for jobs and freedom); non-violent direct action (guided by MLK, from Ghandi) e.g. breaking racist laws, sit ins (Greensboro sit-in, deliberately breaking segregation practices), boycotts (Montgomery bus boycotts), 1961 Freedom Rides (protesting segregation on interstate busses), Little Rock Nine; legislation (e.g. Brown vs Board of Education). Make sure that you know some basic points about at least 3-4 of these. Don’t retell the whole event, concentrate on the method, how it challenges the racism and segregation and the impact that it had.