USA Civil Rights 2 Flashcards
When did Izell Blair, Franklin McCain, Joseph Richmond and Joseph McNeil first sit in?
1 Feb 1960
What happened on the second day of the greensboro sit in?
About 25 students arrived and sat at the lunch counter in shifts.
How many students were taking part in the sit in by Feb 4?
Over 300 working in shifts
How did non-violent protest work?
- Demonstrate peacefully and visibly
- Do not rise to provocation
- Show your opponent up as a violent oppressor
What support did SNCC provide to groups?
They trained students to cope with the hostility and harassment they faced during sit-ins and other demonstrations.
What was the significance of Greensboro?
- Young people were inspired to protest.
- Some white southerners joined CORE and SNCC.
- It was a visible form of protest that was hard to ignore.
- It was public and open to the media
- Showed the importance of publicity.
By mid-april 1960 how many protesters were taking part in the Greensboro sit-ins?
50,000
What was the aim of the freedom riders?
They aimed to spark a crisis and worldwide publicity so that the federal government would force states to desegregate.
When did the freedom rides start?
4 May 1961
What happened on the 15 May 1961?
The first bus reached Anniston, Alabama. Over 100 KKK members surrounded it, slashing the tyres and smashing the windows.
What was the role of ‘Bull’ Connor in opposition to the freedom rides?
He was the birmingham chief of police and he ordered police not to stop KKK members attacking the bus.
How many freedom rides were there?
Over 60 over the summer
What did the federal government say on 1 November after the freedom rides?
They said federal officers would enforce desegregation if states did not obey.
What was the result of the federal enforcement of desegregation?
The southern states began to desegregate bus facilities and the freedom rides ended.
Why did the NAACP challenge James Meredith’s rejection from Ole Miss?
They argued it was because he was black. The supreme court ordered the university to admit him.
What happened on 30 September 1962 in Mississippi?
Meredith returned to register, he was accompained by about 500 federal officials. A mob of over 3,000 attacked the federal officials. Kennedy spoke on television and radio calling for calm. He was ignored.
How many people were killed during the violence in protest to James Meredith’s admission to Ole Miss?
2 civilians were killed and somewhere between 245 and 375 civilians were injured.
How did they stop the rioting over James Meredith’s uni admission?
Kennedy sent in federal troops.
What was Campaign C?
A campaign in Birmingham to end segregation. It aimed to achieve publicity by provoking white people.
What did Campaign C include?
Sit-ins, mass meetings, peaceful protest marches and a boycott of shops.
How many people marched on 2 May in Birmingham?
About 6,000, most were students but some were as young as six years old. Over 900 people were arrested.
What happened on 3 May in Birmingham?
The jails were full so ‘Bull’ Connor ordered the police to use dogs and fire hoses on the protesters. Kennedy said the photos made him feel sick and ashamed.
What were the longer term effects of the events in Birmingham?
- Federal government feared widespread rioting.
- Protests in cities all over the USA
- A month later, 143 cities had some desegregation
- Many more americans saw civil rights as the most urgent issue for the USA.
- Government produced a tougher civil rights bill
When was the March on Washington?
28 August 1963
How many people took part in the March on Washington?
Over 250,000 people, about 40,000 were white
Why was the size of the March on Washington significant?
It showed huge support for civil rights across the USA. Neither federal or state governments could argue it was a minor issue.
Why were the people who saw the march on Washington significant?
It was broadcast live on television in the USA and other countries.
Why was King’s speech during the March on Washington significant?
It gained more support for civil rights and it meant many people saw King as the leader of the movement.
Why was the crowd during the March on Washington significant?
- Black and White people attened peacefully together.
- Showed support for civil rights from all classes.
How many black americans in the south registered to vote between 1962 and 1964?
700,000
What was freedom summer?
In 1964, SNCC and CORE set up ‘Freedom Summer’ in mississippi. The aim was for volunteers to work on projects in the black community and help with voter registration.
How many volunteers went to mississippi during freedom summer?
About 1,000
How many KKK members were there in mississipi?
Over 10,000
How many crosses were burned before the ‘invasion’ by the KKK?
61
How many black people tried to regsiter to vote during freedom summer?
17,000, only 1,600 succeeded
What were the consequences of freedom summer?
- People became aware of the problems of registering to vote.
- People were beaten up, murdered or lost their jobs.
- 1,600 black people registered however 17,000 tried to in total.
When did the SCLC and King arrive in Selma?
January 1965
What was happening at the time of King’s visit to Selma?
President Johnson was stressing the need for a voting rights act to make voting tests fair and help black americans qualify to vote.
What did people protest against in Selma?
Voter registration tests
What happened on Sunday 7 March in Selma?
About 600 protesters set out to march from Selma to Montgomery. State troopers stopped them and attacked them with tear gas, clubs and cattle prods.
What was the significance of the attacks on protesters in Selma?
The USA made world headlines for its abuse of black people.
What happened after bloody sunday?
Johnson used an executive order to federalise the state national guard, they then escorted the marchers from Selma to Montgomery on 21-24 March.