USA 1954-75 : Civil Rights - Paper 2 Flashcards
How were black americans discriminated against in the 1950’s ? Laws ?
In the south the jim crow laws enforced segregation covering all aspects of life
What was the plessy v ferguson case ?
In 1896 homer plessy changed segregation on trains by saying it was against the 14th amendmant . The supreme court ruled against him . It said segregation was acceptable if the facilities provided were equal .
How were the black people discriminated against in the south ?
- State Laws (jim crow)
- seperate resteraunts , cinemas , schools
- buses were segregated
- facilities in black schools were much worse and less money was spent on them
How were black people discriminated in the north ?
- blacks had the worst jobs
- lived in poorest parts of towns called ‘ghettos’
Why did the civil rights movement grow in the 1950’s ?
Impact of second world war
The cold war
Television
Education
What was the brown vs board of education, topeka ?
- 1952 NAACP take 5 desegregation cases to supreme court
- they argues that seperate was not equal . Against 14th amendment
- supreme court had not yet made a decision . Earl warren replaced pro-segregation judge , as chief of justice, december 1952
- may 1954 , supreme court ruling : ‘ separate but equal ‘ had no place in education
- may 1955 , supreme court called for desegregation ‘with all deliberate speed’
Evidence of some short term sucess of brown ?
- plessy was reversed
- led to many further legal victories
- southern border states desegregated schools
Evidence that brown was unsuccessful ?
- threats and violence to black children that attempted to integrate schools
- some southern governors pledged to keep segregation
- white citizens council set up in mississippi aimed to preserve segregation using intimidation and violence
Long term effects of Brown vs Topeka ruling ?
- black students faced hostility in integrated schools
- more awareness of civil rights but NAACP membership fell
-white flight - many whites moved away from areas with large black population - some black teachers lost their jobs others faced difficulty in new integrated schools
The significance of little rock ? How many people stayed ? Actions of orval faubus ? Daisy baites ?
- 75 black students applied 25 were selected , only 9 still willing to go after threats of violence
- ovral faubus - arkansas governed sent troops to prevent black students from entering the school
- daisy baites (NAACP) areanged for students to arrive at school together
The significance of little rock ? Elizabeth eckford ? Publicity ? Presidents eisenhowers orders and outcome of it ?
- elizabeth eckford missed the message from diasy and arrived alone , subjected to abuse from a white mob
- pictures / TV seen worldwide
- ordered faubus to remove state troops
- he sent federal troops to control and the 9 black students went to school
What happened between may 1958 - september1959 ? (Faubus)
He closed all schools for a year then he git forced to re-open them by parents
Why was little rock so important ?
- It forced president eisenhower who would of done nothing to take action
- in 1957 eisenhower introduced the first civil rights act since 1875. Commissioned to prosecute anyone denying citezins their rights
- attracted world wide attention
How did white people in the south oppose integrated schools ? (White citizens council)
- the group grew rapidly
- petitioned and campaigned against desegregation
- threatened families
- violence/intimidation escalated(KKK,bombings)
How did white people in the south oppose integrated schools ? (Political opposition)
- senator harry byrd demanded massive resistance
- prince edward county in virginia closed public schools
- school boards very slow to integrate
- some school boards segregated within schools
The events of the montgomery bus boycots ?
1st December 1955 - rosa parks arrested
8th december - bus company refused to change policies
12th december - car pooling begins
30 january 1956 - MLK house bombed
1st febuary - NAACP begin browder vs Gayle case
22nd febuary - 89 MIA members arrested
19th march - MIA member put on trial
11 may - browder vs gayle comes to court
5 june - s court orders that buses should be desegregated
When was the bus boycott lifted and when did the integrated buses begin ?
20th December
21st December
Why did MLK become such a influential leader ?
Education - being well educated allowed him to think through a campaign stratergy carefully, establish clear goals and how to achieve them
Non- violent approach - gains sympathy and support
Passionate speeches - shows that he cares and motivates supporters
Widespread appeal - support from blacks and whites
Christian virtues - black americans support him , good role model people look up to him
Who were the three important leaders in the montgomery bus boycott ?
Jo Ann Robinson - president of WPC,teacher,orginised boycott
E.D Nixon - NAACP member, helped set up the boycott
Ralph David Abernathy - clergyman,NAACP member , took over the MIA after MLK left montgomery
What does the MIA stand for ?
Montgomery improvement association
Was the montgomery boycott a success ? (Yes reasons)
- buses were desegregated
- a very symbol victory in legal terms
- showed the power of a non-violent , orginised protest
-brought MLK into the spotlight
Was the Montgomery bus boycott a success ? (No reasons)
- white backlash
- MIA leaders were attacked
- black people riding buses were shot at
- bus services were suspended for several weeks
- even though buses were desegregated , no further desegregation happened in montgomery
- bus stops remained segregated
