The Civil Rights Era 1954 – 1975

Objectives:

Why efforts to gain civil rights created an effective movement for change

How the Civil Rights movement led to social upheaval

A New Beginning

• Objectives• Discuss the

effects of the Brown vs. Board of Ed. Decision

• Describe major events in the early civil rights movement

Jim Crow Laws

Brown vs. Board of Ed

• Linda Brown was not allowed to attend an all-white school

• Case challenged 1896 Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson which upheld constitutionality of “separate but equal”

Brown vs. Board of Ed. (Continued)

• Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that segregation in schools was unconstitutional

• 101 southern members of Congress signed the “Southern Manifesto” and pledged to fight the decision

Thurgood Marshall with James Nabrit Jr. and George E.C. Hayes

Rosa Parks

• December 1955, Montgomery Alabama, she was arrested for failing to give up seat on bus

• Boycott supported by African Americans and organized by Martin Luther King Jr.

                  

Rosa Parks (continued)

• Bus boycott lasted 381 days

• Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public transportation was illegal in 1956

• Started Civil Rights movement with an inspirational leader

Non-violent Resistance

• King drew from teachings of Gandhi

• Peaceful means to effect change

• Founded the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)

• Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his non-violent leadership

Crisis in Little Rock

• Nine African American students were not admitted to the all-white Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas

• Orval Faubus authorized National Guard to prevent students from entering

                          

Crisis in Little Rock (Continued)

• Faubus recalled National Guard but angry mob was threatening students

• Eisenhower sent in 1,000 paratroopers and federalized National Guard so the students could enter safely