Civil Rights

Civil Rights1896-1960

Unit 12

Standard 22

Essay QuestionWhat strategies should Civil

Rights participants use to achieve a more just, equal

society in 1968?

Legal SystemSupreme Court will have dramatic impact on civil rights in America.

Plessey v. Ferguson(1896) Legalized “separate but equal”

accomodations for black and white. Many Southern states began passing Jim

Crow laws.

Brown v. BOE of Topeka (1954)

Thurgood Marshall, lead attorney.

Combines 4 cases dealing with segregated schools.

9-0 Supreme Court said, “In the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place.”

President Truman Truman desegregates all military branches to

help fighting in Korea.

Little Rock, AR (1957) Nine black children registered for school at

Central High School.

Little Rock, AR (1957) AR Governor Faubus sends National Guard

to prevent them from entering.

Little Rock, AR (1957) President Eisenhower federalizes troops and

sends Army to protect children. School closed next year.

Civil Rights Act of 1957 Give black people a better opportunity to vote

without facing discrimination.

Non-Violent/ Direct Action

Limited support of federal government. Beginnings of large-scale peaceful protests.

W.E.B. DuBois Helped organize NAACP. Philosophy: Races should be treated as

equals in all aspects.

Booker T. Washington Founded Tuskegee Institute. Knew segregation &

discrimination would not end immediately.

Philosophy: Encouraged blacks to find a way to become productive in society.

Montgomery, AL (1955) Rosa Parks arrested for breaking segregation

laws (Not first woman arrested for not giving up her seat).

Montgomery, AL (1955) Community organized boycott of bus system

until segregated seating outlawed. Lasted 381 days.

Montgomery, AL (1955) Resulted in segregated seating in

Montgomery being outlawed.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Philosophy: Non-violent resistance (soul force)

Jesus: Love your enemy. Henry David Thoreau: Civil disobedience, refusal to

obey unjust law. A. Philip Randolph: Organized massive

demonstrations. Mohandas Gandhi: Resist oppression without

violence.

Non-Violent Organizations NAACP: National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People

SCLC: Southern Christian Leadership Conference

SNCC: Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee

Greensboro, NC (1960) Four African American college students sat at

Woolworth’s white lunch counter. Would not leave until they got served.

Greensboro, NC (1960) Encouraged students across country to start

own protests. Faced violence from white mobs.

Black PowerSmall movements that are mostly in northern states.

Marcus Garvey (1910s) UNIA promoted black pride.

Back to Africa movement to form a strong black nation.

Support declined by mid 1920s when Garvey jailed.

Nation of Islam Elijah Poole (Muhammed) Blacks should

Take responsibility for own lives. Be disciplined. Live by strict code of behavior. Reject dependence on whites.

Malcolm Little (X) Joined Nation of Islam while

in jail. Became one of movements

most influential speakers.

Malcolm X on Plymouth Rock

Malcolm Little (X) Whites are cause of black

condition, therefore blacks should separate from white society.

Civil Rights 1896-1960 Success1. Brown v. Board2. Civil Rights Act of

19573. Integrated

transportation4. Limited end to

discrimination in public facilities

Failures/Setbacks1. Increased violence of

KKK and White Citizens Councils

2. State/Local law enforcements continue to prevent protests in southern cities.

Civil RightsCivil Rights1961-19651961-1965

Legal SystemLegal SystemSchool integration focuses on colleges/universities. Major federal legislation will be passed.

James Meredith (1962)James Meredith (1962) Air Force Veteran

who won case allowing him to enroll in Ole Miss.

James Meredith (1962)James Meredith (1962) MS Governor Ross

Barnett refused to let him register. “I call on every

Mississippian to keep his faith and courage. We will never surrender.”

James Meredith (1962)James Meredith (1962) President Kennedy sent

federal marshals to protect Meredith.

Vivian Malone & James HoodVivian Malone & James Hood Enrolled in University of Alabama.

Vivian Malone & James HoodVivian Malone & James Hood AL Governor George Wallace stood in doorway

to block entrance.

Vivian Malone & James HoodVivian Malone & James Hood

President Kennedy federalized AL National Guard and they escorted Malone and Hood into registration.

Freedom Summer Freedom Summer 19641964 SNCC in MS to register voters.

Freedom Summer Freedom Summer 19641964 Black Mississippians formed MFDP because

Democratic Party did not allow black voters.

Freedom Summer Freedom Summer 19641964 MFDP demanded seats at DNC in Atlantic City,

NJ.

Freedom Summer Freedom Summer 19641964 Compromise not

accepted by all in MFDP. Increased problems between SCLC and SNCC.

Civil Rights Act 1964Civil Rights Act 1964 President Johnson signed into law. Prohibited discrimination based on race,

religion, national origin, or gender.

Non-Violent/ Non-Violent/ Direct ActionDirect Action

Protests increase and lead to large scale violence by state/local authorities

x

Freedom Rides 1961Freedom Rides 1961 Purpose: Test

desegregation laws for interstate travel.

Black and White members of CORE ride busses from D.C. to New Orleans.

Freedom Rides 1961Freedom Rides 1961 Beaten by white mobs at

Anniston, AL

Freedom Rides 1961Freedom Rides 1961 Beaten by white mobs at

Birmingham, AL

Freedom Rides 1961Freedom Rides 1961 Beaten by white mobs at

Montgomery, AL

Freedom Rides 1961Freedom Rides 1961 Arrested in Mississippi, never finished ride.

Albany, GA 1963Albany, GA 1963 Purpose: Desegregate public facilities. Chief of Police: Laurie Pritchett did not allow

beatings or violence.

Albany, GA 1963Albany, GA 1963 Movement got little

media coverage and Albany stayed segregated.

Birmingham, AL 1963Birmingham, AL 1963 Project “C” (Confrontation) Birmingham most

segregated city in America. (Bombingham)

Sheriff: Eugene “Bull” Conner

Birmingham, AL 1963Birmingham, AL 1963 Protest until change happens or police use

violence. School children used when adults don’t show

up. Police use dogs and clubs. Firemen use water hoses. Stop song

Birmingham, AL 1963Birmingham, AL 1963 King arrested in Birmingham and writes Letter

from a Birmingham Jail.

March on Washington March on Washington 19631963 Support passage of Civil Rights Act. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech appealed for

peace and racial harmony.

I Have a Dream

SNCC in Mississippi 1964SNCC in Mississippi 1964 Registering black

voters. Three SNCC

members murdered by police and white radicals.

SNCC in Mississippi 1964SNCC in Mississippi 1964 NAACP leader, Medgar Evers, assassinated

outside home.

Black Power/ Black Power/ Use of ForceUse of Force

Beginning to gain more support from the younger protestors.

Malcolm X 1965Malcolm X 1965 Advocates armed self-

defense Broke with Nation of

Islam over beliefs.

Swinging not Singing

Malcolm X 1965Malcolm X 1965 Assassinated in February 1965

SNCCSNCC Beginning to move

toward more militant stance.

Stokley Carmichael becomes head of SNCC.

Harlem Riots 1965Harlem Riots 1965 15 year old black student killed by white police. Rioting starts in Central Harlem

Civil Rights 1961-1965Civil Rights 1961-1965 Successes1. School integration

continues2. Civil Rights Act of

19643. Mississippi Freedom

Democratic Party gets vote at Democratic convention in 1964

Failures1. Albany Movement2. Freedom Summer 3. Murders of SNCC

members/leaders4. Malcolm X murdered

Civil Rights1965-1968

Legal System

Push for voting rights and continued desegregation in southern states

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Eliminated literacy test. Federal examiners could enroll voters

denied right by local officials.

24th Amendment 1964

Poll tax abolished

Too expensive for blacks to run as AL Democrat.

Lowndes County Freedom Organization formed (LCFO).

Symbol of party was black panther. “A panther won’t bother anybody, but push it into

a corner, and it will do whatever it takes.”

Lowndes County, AL 1966

Lowndes County, AL 1966 Places black

candidates on ballot.

Lee v. Macon 1967 Court case ordering AL schools to

desegregate. Still being enforced today.

Non-Violent/ Direct ActionMarches focus on voting rights

Selma, AL 1965 SNCC in Selma working on voting rights.

Selma, AL 1965 To protest death of black demonstrator and

denial of voting rights, march to Montgomery organized.

Bloody Sunday March 7, 1965 AL troopers beat marchers after crossing

Edmund Pettis Bridge.

Selma, AL 1965 Two weeks later they march again, this time

with protection of federal government. Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed.

Poor People’s Campaign 1968 Gaining equality means getting employment

and getting out of poverty. King organizes campaign around economic

issues. Marches begin moving northward, Chicago.

MLK, Jr. Assassination 1968

MLK in Memphis, TN supporting garbage workers strike.

April 3 speech “I may not get there with you but . . . We as a

people will get to the Promised Land.”

MLK, Jr. Assassination 1968 April 4: James Earl Ray shot and killed MLK

Jr.

Becomes more common than ever in the United States. Once peaceful groups become more violent.

Black Power/ Use of Force

Riots Urban riots break out in

Los Angeles, CA Newark, NJ Chicago, IL Detroit, MI

Black Panthers As movement in

South growing longer and more violent, philosophy changes.

SNCC & CORE endorse “Black Power” and begin excluding whites.

Black Panthers Black Panther Party

formed in Oakland, CA.

Civil Rights 1965-1968 Successes1. Voting Rights Act2. Continued school

desegregation3. Commission on Civil

disorders

Failures1. Increased violence

throughout the nation resulting in numerous deaths.

2. Open-end to complete civil rights for all people.

Where do we go from here? Which form of protest has worked the best?

Legal Action Non-violent/Direct Action Use of Force

YOU DECIDE!