Watts Riots Flashcards
1
Q
When was the first large race riot?
A
2 weeks after signing the Civil Rights Act
2
Q
How long did the riots last for?
A
4 years
3
Q
What did the race riots show?
A
- Unhappiness within African American communities
- Realised that laws alone would not bring equality
4
Q
What caused race riots?
A
- System racism and segregation
- Economic hardships
5
Q
What were the reasons for race riots?
A
- Police violence
- Ineffectiveness of non-violent protests
- Vietnam war - disproportionate drafting
6
Q
What was the geographical locations of race riots?
A
Breaking out not only in the South
(e.g. Newark, Detroit, Washington DC)
7
Q
Why were Blacks prepared to be more militant?
A
- Frustrated with failure of Gandhi-inspired strategy of peaceful protest
- Paper vs reality
- Did not show respect to those in authority (which some other groups may have due to slavery)
8
Q
How did the Vietnam war affect the disillusion?
A
- Strengthened it
- US involvement and the way young black men were ‘drafted’
9
Q
How did the drafts work in the Vietnam war?
A
- Middle/upper class whites evaded draft by staying in higher education
- Poor blacks drafted in disproportionate numbers and disproportionate amount of frontline combat duty
10
Q
How did the Watts riots affect politics?
A
- Radicalised blacks and white supporters
- Brought a resurgence of conservatism
