USA Key Topic 2 (Civil Rights)

Question 1

What happened at Greensboro and sit-ins?

Answer 1

-Sit-ins were when black Americans sat in ‘white-only’ areas in eateries where they were not allowed to sit.
-4 black students peaceful protestors sat in in a Woolworths and the white community responded with violence and verbal abuse, eg boiling water, food thrown to humiliate and hurt, spat at, beat up, etc. Later 300 joined
-The protestors did not retaliate but were arrested. Helped gain sympathy for black community and gave moral superiority.

Question 2

How did MLK help the Greensboro sit-ins?

Answer 2

-Visited Greensboro at height of sit-ins and promised support of SCLC. His previous non-violent protest showed it worked.
-Gave SNCC $800 grant from SCLC
-He inspired black students to remain peaceful and join the protests

Question 3

What was SNCC?

Answer 3

-Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee: a civil rights group founded in 1960 which aimed to desegregate lunch counters through non-violent methods.
-In 1961, they expanded their efforts to voter registration and public accommodations desegregation.

Question 4

What were the Freedom Rides (1961)?

Answer 4

-CORE wanted to test desegregation of interstate travel because if there was continued fail to implement it they could should narrow-mindedness and racism in the South that still existed.
-Showed how Southern States not implementing Federal Court’s decisions.
-Members of CORE travelled on interstate buses through the South where they faced lots of white violence, including from the KKK. The riders were arrested in Jackson, MS and not able to reach New Orleans, LA.

Question 5

What was the Anniston Bomb Attack?

Answer 5

-An attack by a white mob in Anniston, AL in 1961. A bus was firebombed and the mob held the doors shut as it burned, intent on burning the riders to death.
-They were able to escape but were viciously beaten by white men armed with clubs, iron pipes and knives as they fled.

Question 6

What were the positive consequences of the Freedom Rides (1961)?

Answer 6

-Raised awareness of racial discrimination across US, national publicity in press
-Civil rights movement gained support, incl. white Americans as they saw how discrimination contradicted US Const.
-Federal intervention to protect riders from mob violence: JFK secured promise from Jackson’s senator there wouldn’t be violence
-Regulations for interstate travel changed

Question 7

What was the James Meredith Case (1962)?

Answer 7

-James Meredith was a black student who wanted to enrol in Mississippi University. The uni. prevented him from registering.
-JFK sent 320 federal marshals to escort him to the campus, to which there were violent white riots in response so 2000 troops were sent to restore order. Meredith registered on Oct. 1st but had to have armed guards with him.
-Governor Wallace in Alabama gave a speech against integration in education, showing how white southern Americans’ attitudes had not changed. Showed how federal gov. was intervening more in the South.

Question 8

What happened at the peach marches in Birmingham, Alabama (1963)?

Answer 8

-Birmingham closed parks, pools, etc to avoid desegregation
-Peaceful protests started 3 April 1963. Police chief ‘Bull’ Connor closed all parks and playgrounds, police arrested protestors. MLK told protestors better to be arrested than accept segregation.
-MLK was arrested for protest and wrote ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’: protests were necessity, negotiation refused by white gov.
-Students and children used in protests, PC Bull Connor used police dogs and powerful hoses on protestors, arrested around 2000.
-TV crews captured events, imagine spread worldwide giving King publicity
-Violent reaction to peace gained sympathy and support for the movement

Question 9

What happened at the March on Washington (1963)?

Answer 9

-After Birmingham, MLK and other leaders organised a march of protesters all across the US.
-More than 250,000 people took part, 40,000 being white.
-It was peaceful and broadcast live on TV internationally, increasing publicity.
-MLK made his famous “I have a dream” speech. Malcolm X called it the “farce on Washington.”
-Put pressure on JFK to pass the Civil Rights Bill

Question 10

What happened during the Freedom Summer (1964)?

Answer 10

-SNCC and CORE sent volunteers to Mississippi to boost voter registration and most were white meaning violence against them would be more newsworthy.
-They ran classes on how black people can register to vote and pass literacy tests. Summer schools set up- 70,000 attended by end of year.
-Became a target for white violence. The KKK burned crosses and black people’s homes. 17,000 registered, 1600 were successful.

Question 11

What were the Mississippi Murders (1964)?

Answer 11

-In June 1964, 3 civil rights activists (2 white 1 black) were taken in to police custody and murdered by KKK. CORE and SNCC members searched for their bodies and found them and 8 other KKK victims when searching.
-Showed the levels of hatred and violence KKK members had and unchanged white attitudes.
-Increased publicity and horror created sympathy.

Question 12

What was the role of JFK in Civil Rights?

Answer 12

-Needed the black vote to win so campaigned in black areas and secured MLK’s release to gain support.
-Selected black people for federal judges, eg Thurgood Marshall (BvT) activist and others in his administration
-Supported introduction of civil rights laws after Birmingham 1963, however wary of Dixiecrats.
-Sent federal troops to protect James Meredith and Freedom Riders.
-Introduced Civil Rights Bill in Feb 1963 aiming to give equality in public housing and education.

Question 13

What was the role of LBJ in Civil Rights?

Answer 13

-Some Dixiecrats supported him more as a Southerner from Texas.
-Cajoled Southern politicians to support the Civil Rights Bill in 1964 and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
-Used JFK’s assassination to make sympathy for the Bill, leading to its passage
-Intervened to escort protesters marching from Selma

Question 14

What was the Civil Rights Act (1964)?

Answer 14

-Banned segregation in hotels, restaurants, theatres, etc.
-Government could stop federal funding of state projects that promoted inequality.
-Gov. hired businesses investigated for discrimination.
-Gov. had obligation to take discrim. cases to court.
-Equal Employment Opportunities Commission set up to help combat work discrimination.

-Many white Americans resented, black Americans thought insufficient
-Black Americans still couldn’t vote

Question 15

What happened at the March on Selma (7 March 1965)?

Answer 15

-SCLC and King decided to campaign voting rights in Selma, Alabama.
-Violence broke out between peaceful marchers and Sheriff Clark’s police, killing 1 white activist, causing huge outrage.
-Met by police with tear gas, clubs and cattle rods. ‘Bloody Sunday’.
-On 7th March, 600 people tried to march 54 miles to Montgomery to publicise the cause.
-Forced LBJ to act, introducing a bill to enfranchise black Americans. 15th March he made a speech to Congress proposing a Voting Rights Bill.

Question 16

What was the Voting Rights Act (1965)?

Answer 16

-Ended literacy tests.
-Ensured federal agents could monitor registration and intervene in case of discrimination, less than 50% of voting age-citizens voting assumed to have discr. involved.
-By 1968, 1,000,000 black Americans had registered and numbers of black representatives increased rapidly.

-Criticism from other groups that progress was too slow and King was too ready to make deals with white authorities.
-Black voters still under represented in South. 85% white voters registered, only 60% black voters.

Question 17

Who was Malcolm X and what were his beliefs?

Answer 17

-A more violent civil rights activist who helped set up educational and social programmes aimed at black youths in ghettoes. Reconnected with African heritage and raised self-esteem.
-His brilliant oratorical skills helped increase membership of Nation of Islam to 100,000. Inspired Black Panthers.
-Believed white people couldn’t help the cause and non violence wouldn’t work
-Criticised MLK’s methods

Question 18

Who was Malcolm X and what were his beliefs?

Answer 18

-A more violent civil rights activist who help set up educational and social programmes aimed at black youths in ghettoes. Reconnected with African heritage and raised self-esteem.
-His brilliant oratorical skills helped increase membership of Nation of Islam to 100,000. Inspired Black Panthers.
-Believed white people couldn’t help the cause and non-violent methods weren’t effective
-Criticised MLK’s methods, mainstream civil rights groups felt they had a ‘hate-white doctrine.’ More extreme.

Question 19

What was Malcolm X’s change in beliefs?

Answer 19

-After a trip to Mecca, Malcolm X wanted to promote closer ties between Africans and African Americans. He left the Nation of Islam.
-He also wanted to push for an end to racial discrimination which created a divide between him and the Nation of Islam.

Question 20

What was the Nation of Islam?

Answer 20

-A civil rights group that didn’t accept King’s ideas. Its supporters sought separatism and used violence.
-Members rejected their slave surnames and called themselves ‘X’
-Assassinated Malcolm X after his change in views.

Question 21

What was Black Power?

Answer 21

-A civil rights movement that wanted to rid the USA of a corrupt power structure by creating their own political force.
-Wanted black people to take responsibility for their lives and making change, reject white help. Promoted pride in African heritage, adopted slogan ‘Black is beautiful’.
-Emerged against backdrop of urban unrest, aimed to increase power of black people in American life

Question 22

Who was Stokely Carmichael?

Answer 22

-A civil rights member who was a member of SNCC who was dissatisfied that no political parties focused on black rights. He became the chairman of SNCC in 1966 and wanted more radical change
-Promoted pride in heritage, rejecting white help, violence allowed.
-Attracted criticism due to aggressive attitude and denouncing of US involvement in Vietnam War.

Question 23

What happened at the 1968 Mexico Olympics?

Answer 23

-Athletes wore part of Black Panther movement’s uniform: black glove/ black beret and gave clenched-fist salute
-Black Americans Smith and Carlos were gold and bronze medalists. Smith rose right hand for Black Power and Carlos rose left hand for black unity.
-Attracted tremendous publicity for Black Power movement, whole world became more aware.

-Smith and Carlos banned from athletes’ village and sent to US for “bringing politics into sport and breaking Olympic spirit”.

Question 24

What was the Black Panther Movement?

Answer 24

-A movement founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966 in California, both men influenced by Malcolm X.
-Prepared to use revolutionary means to achieve aims, even form alliances with white radical groups.
-Had a radical 10 point plan to transform society. Focused on class struggle rather than racial. Advocated an end to capitalism and establishment of socialist society.

Question 25

What did the Black Panther Movement do?

Answer 25

-Provided clothing distribution centres, gave guidance on drug rehabilitation and assisted those whose relatives were in prison. Made breakfast clubs for poor black kids.
-Gained media attention due to use of weapons, carried guns for self defence.
-Had lots of internal divisions and was constantly targeted by the FBI, disbanding by 1982.

Question 26

What happened during the 1965-1967 riots?

Answer 26

-329 major cities had riots.
-Began in New York City when a black man was shot by police.
-Watts riots in Watts district of LA because of ghetto conditions and violence in Freedom Summer and Selma marches.
-There were riots every summer in cities such as Chicago and Cleveland.

Question 27

What was the Kerner Report (1968)?

Answer 27

-Set up by LBJ in 1968.
-Found that riots were a consequence of poor living in ghettos.
-Said that black people should be listened to and involved in resolutions and that policing methods must change.
-Funding was needing to improve living conditions not just more police. The media exaggerated the severity of the riots.

Question 28

What was King’s campaign in the North?

Answer 28

-In 1966, King and the SCLC decided to campaign more in the North as they felt they hadn’t won over black Americans in the North who they struggled to connect to.
-He campaigned more for economic freedom for black Americans and fairer distribution of wealth to reduce gap between wealth and poverty, seen as communist which was very unpopular.
-Mayor of Chicago agreed to discussions but did not act on them. His criticism of the USA’s involvement in Vietnam meant that the President was also less supportive.

Question 29

What impact did MLK’s assassination have?

Answer 29

-4th April 1968 MLK was shot by James Earl Ray on his hotel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.
-Led to more riots and demonstrations: 21,000 arrested, $70 million property damage. Great irony- seemed as if King’s work and life had been for nothing.
-Civil rights groups lost funding.

Question 30

What was the extent of progress of civil rights by 1975?

Answer 30

-Desegregation in all schools, transport and restaurants.
-Campaigns to achieve economic equality had not been very successful. Eg, in the 70’s the gap between the richest and poorest still depended on race.
-Black Americans still had worse employment chances and were paid less for the same work.
-Attitudes of southern white Americans had changed somewhat but not significantly.

Question 31

What was the extent of progress of civil rights by 1975?

Answer 31

-Desegregation in all schools, transport and restaurants.
-Campaigns to achieve economic equality had not been very successful. Eg, in the 70’s the gap between the richest and poorest still depended on race.
-Black Americans still had worse employment chances and were paid less for the same work.
-Attitudes of southern white Americans had changed somewhat but not significantly.