Unit 3.1 Civil Rights Movement Flashcards
How did African American migration to Northern cities impact their political and economic opportunities?
African Americans who moved to northern cities gained voting rights and more political influence. They could support candidates and policies that promoted civil rights, and their increased presence in the workforce gave them economic opportunities unavailable in the segregated south.
What role did the NAACP play in challenging segregation laws, and what strategies did it use?
The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) focused on legal battles to end segregation, especially in education and housing. It successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal school segregation.W
Why was the Brown V. Board of Education decision significant for the Civil Rights Movement?
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown V. The Board of Education declared that “separate but equal” educational facilities were unconstitutional, reversing Plessy v. Ferguson and legally mandating school desegregation.
What challenges did school districts and communities face when trying to implement desegregation?
Many white communities resisted desegregation, leading to protests, political opposition, and even violence. Some states refused to comply, forcing federal intervention in places like Little Rock, Arkansas.
What events led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and how did African Americans respond?
Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat sparked a year-long bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. African Americans organized carpools, walked, and refused to ride city buses until segregation laws were overturned.
What challenges did participants face during the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Boycotters faced threats, job loss, and even violence. The city government and bus company refused to change policies, but the Supreme Court eventually rules that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
How did the federal government respond to the Little Rock Nine crisis?
President Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce integration at Little Rock Central High School after Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus blocked the African American students from entering.
What was the purpose of the National Urban League, and how did it assist African Americans?
The National Urban League helped African Americans moving to northern cities by providing job assistance, and housing support, and advocating for fair employment practices.
How did CORE contribute to the Civil Rights Movement?
The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) used nonviolent protests like sit-ins and Freedom Rides to challenge segregation.
How did Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolent protests influence the Civil RIghts Movement?
Inspired by Gandhi, King promoted nonviolent resistance, including boycotts, marches, and peaceful demonstrations, to challenge racial injustice.
Compare and contrast the strategies used by the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC.
The NAACP focused on legal challenges, the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) used nonviolent protests led by clergy, and SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) organized grassroots activism, sit-ins, and Freedom Rides.
How did sit-ins challenge segregation, and what were some of the risks faced by participants?
Sit-ins were a form of nonviolent protests in which African Americans occupied segregated spaces, refusing to leave. Protesters faced harassment, violence, and arrest.
What were the goals of the Freedom Riders, and how they encounter resistance?
Freedom Riders tested Supreme Court rulings that outlawed segregation in bus travel. They faced violent mobs, including firebombings and beatings, particularly in Alabama.
How did television and media coverage of violent responses to civil rights protests influence public opinion?
Broadcasts of peaceful protesters being attacked by police and mobs shocked the nation and increased support for civil rights legislation.
Why was the March on Washington significant, and what impact did Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech have?
The 1963 March demonstrated unity for civil rights and pressured Congress to pass civil rights laws. King’s speech inspired millions and became a defining moment of the movement.
What were the key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Act outlawed segregation in public places, prohibited employment discrimination, and strengthened voting rights.
What was Freedom Summer, and what challenges did activists face?
A campaign to register Black voters in Mississippi. Volunteers faced arrests, beatings, and even murder by white supremacists.
How did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 address racial barriers to voting?
It banned literacy tests and allowed federal officials to oversee voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination.
Why was the 24th Amendment significant in the fight for nothing rights?
It eliminated poll taxes, which were used to prevent African Americans from voting.
What were Malcolm X’s early views on racial issues, and how did they change after his pilgrimage to Mecca?
Initially, Malcolm X promoted Black separatism and self-defence. After his pilgrimage, he embraced racial unity and rejected some earlier views.
How did the Black Power movement differ from earlier civil rights organizations in its approach and philosophy?
It emphasized self-reliance, racial pride, and, in some cases, militant resistance, moving away from nonviolent protest.
What were the main goals of the Black Panther Party, and how did they seek to achieve them?
They advocated for Black self-defense, monitored police activity, and provided community programs like free breakfast and medical clinics.
What were the major successes and limitations of the Civil Rights Movement?
Successes: End of legal segregation, increased voting rights, more African American political representation.
Limitations: Economic inequality and racial tensions remained.
How did Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination impact the movement and American society?
His death led to riots in over 120 cities and weakened the momentum of nonviolent activism.
What were the causes of Urban riots in the 1960s, such as the Watts Riots?
Police brutality, poverty, and frustration over racial inequality led to violent protests.
How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 change American society?
They made segregation illegal, strengthened voting rights, and created legal pathways to fight discrimination.
What factors contributed to the continued racial unrest even after major civil rights laws were passed?
De facto segregation, police violence, and economic inequality persisted despite new laws.
How did James Meredith’s efforts to integrate the University of Mississippi challenge segregation?
Despite legal approval, he faced violent resistance, requiring federal intervention.
How did de facto segregation remain an issue even after segregation ended?
Segregation caused by housing discrimination and economic disparity continued, even without explicit laws.
What lessons can be learned from the Civil Rights Movement that apply to current social justice movements?
Nonviolent protests, grassroots organizing, and legal action remain key for fighting injustice today.
