THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Recent and Contemporary U. S. of A

THE CIVIL

RIGHTS MOVEMENT

THE CIVIL

RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Recent and Contemporary U. S. of A.

Blacks in America: From Colonial Times to WW IIBlacks in America: From Colonial Times to WW II

A. Importation of BlacksA. Importation of Blacks

The first blacks arrived in 1619, in Jamestown, VA

Slaves were generally captives from tribal conflicts in Africa or kidnapped by Arab slave traders

The US Constitution permitted the slave trade until 1808 and counted slaves as 3/5 of a person in population census

Illegal smuggling of slaves into the US continued throughout the 1860s

B. Blacks Under SlaveryB. Blacks Under Slavery

Blacks generally labored on southern plantations, although a few lived in the north

Slaves worked with little to no compensation but were provided basic living necessities

The institution of slavery in the US developed as successive generations of slaves were bound to their parents’ masters or were sold as property

The marketing of Africans tore apart the basic fabric of their traditional culture—the family


C. The Civil War EraC. The Civil War Era

Slavery became the emotional cause of the Civil War as well as an economic extension of Industry (N) vs. Agriculture (S)


The “Emancipation Proclamation” freed all slaves in the US—of course, the Confederacy did not recognize Lincoln’s proclamation

The Freedman’s Bureau provided food and clothing, medical care, and education to former slaves as well as to poor whites

C. The Civil War Era, cont’dC. The Civil War Era, cont’d

The 13th Amendment prohibited “involuntary servitude”


The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to former slaves and guaranteed them equal protection under the law

The 15th Amendment extended the right to vote to blacks/former slaves

D. Reconstruction to WW I – Southern DiscriminationD. Reconstruction to WW I – Southern Discrimination

Politically, southern states passed various voting laws to restrict blacks from voting


Economically, blacks continued working the land as they had done as slaves on the plantations, but as sharecropper living in poverty

Socially, segregation laws kept blacks and whites separateThe Progressive Era –as an attempt to address social and economic ills in society through education and reform—overlooked the plight of the blacks

E. After WW I – Northern DiscriminationE. After WW I – Northern Discrimination


By the turn of the century, millions of southern blacks migrated to the North looking for work in industrial centers

Socially, blacks were crowded into slum areas—ghettos—with little opportunity to move from the urban centers

Economically, blacks were confined to the lowest paying jobs with little to no opportunity for advancement

E. After WW I – Northern Discrimination, cont’dE. After WW I – Northern Discrimination, cont’d


Politically, blacks increasingly looked to the Democratic Party as its advocate (FDR)

Regardless of living in the North or South, the blacks were looked upon as “inferior”

Blacks faced similar hurdles to “Americanization” as did Orientals because they were less likely to “melt” into the American culture; however, the legacy of slavery made overcoming the hurdles a greater challenge

A. Gains During World War IIA. Gains During World War II

Movement for Black Rights: Starting With WW IIMovement for Black Rights: Starting With WW II

Fighting the racism of the Nazis forced Americans to confront their own issues of race

The black soldiers distinguished themselves as citizens of a common American ideal--equality

The Fair Employment Practices Committee prevented discrimination against workers because of “race, creed, color, or national origin”

Following the war, most states passed anti-discrimination laws

B. Private Efforts Against DiscriminationB. Private Efforts Against Discrimination


Industries and corporations sought qualified blacks for employment

Unions began to extend membership to blacks

Sports and entertainment industries also began to open for blacks

C. Federal Efforts on Civil RightsC. Federal Efforts on Civil Rights


President Truman prohibited discrimination in the hiring and promoting of federal employees; he also began the integration of the armed forces

A Committee on Civil Rights determined that racial and religious discrimination prevented achievement of democracy

Southern Senators defeated all early attempts at federal civil rights legislation, but the persistence of Pres. Truman elevated civil rights as a national issue

A. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – 1909A. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – 1909

Organizations to Improve the Black ConditionOrganizations to Improve the Black Condition

Biracial group committed to securing legal equality for blacksWorks through publicity, lobbying, and legal action

Appealed mainly to the educated, middle- and upper-class blacks and liberal whites

B. The National Urban League -- 1911B. The National Urban League -- 1911B. The National Urban League -- 1911B. The National Urban League -- 1911

Concerned primarily with economic issues facing the black manWorked to find housing and jobs for migrant blacks

C. The Nation of IslamC. The Nation of Islam


Basic idea—Allah would bring about a “black nation”, a union of all nonwhite peoples

Followers of the original principles of the Nation of Islam did not seek political change, but rather, tried to live a life separated from the white man—black nationalismBy the 1960s Malcolm X was leading the movement toward violent protests against integration. His shift away from separation and toward cooperation resulted in his assassinationToday, the Nation of Islam struggles to maintain unity between “aggressive” and “passive” members

D. Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) -- 1942D. Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) -- 1942


Interracial group dedicated to bringing about change through peaceful confrontation

Used demonstrations and protests


Organized by Southern clergymen (MLK, Jr.), shifting the leadership of the civil rights movement from the north to the south

Introduced the concept of nonviolent protest, based on Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence and Thoreau’s concept of civil disobedience

E. Southern Christian Leadership ConferenceE. Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Called for sit-ins, marches, and protests peacefully conducted regardless of the possible actions taken against themRelied on gradual rather than instant achievement of objectives


An offshoot of the SCLC appealing to younger, secular activistsCampaigned for immediate changes, yet still relied on non-violence

F. Student Nonviolent Coordinating CommitteeF. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Stokely Carmichael called for black power as a means of a revolutionary overthrow of the existing American systemFrequently had violent confrontations with the police, but worked successfully to establish community services

G. The Black Panthers -- 1966G. The Black Panthers -- 1966

Emphasized the difference between de jure segregation (by law) and de facto segregation (by social conditions)

Legal Precedents and Principles for Civil RightsLegal Precedents and Principles for Civil Rights

A. 14th Amendment (1868) Equal protection of the laws to all citizens

B. B. Strauder v. West Virginia (1880) Strauder v. West Virginia (1880) Unconstitutional to bar blacks from jury dutyUnconstitutional to bar blacks from jury duty

C. The Civil Rights Cases (1883) C. The Civil Rights Cases (1883) struck down struck down provisions of the 1875 Civil Rights Act that punished provisions of the 1875 Civil Rights Act that punished businesses for discrimination; the Constitution “while businesses for discrimination; the Constitution “while prohibiting discrimination by governments made no prohibiting discrimination by governments made no provisions…for acts of racial discrimination by private provisions…for acts of racial discrimination by private individuals”individuals”

D. D. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court Supreme Court ruled state laws based on “separate but equal” ruled state laws based on “separate but equal” principle were constitutional; authorized de facto principle were constitutional; authorized de facto segregationsegregation


E. Korematsu v. US (1944) Supreme Court rejected arguments of the 5th amendment noting that “pressing public necessity [WWII] may sometimes justify the existence of restrictions which curtail the civil rights of a single racial group” but added that “racial antagonism” never can justify such restrictions

E. Korematsu v. US (1944) Supreme Court rejected arguments of the 5th amendment noting that “pressing public necessity [WWII] may sometimes justify the existence of restrictions which curtail the civil rights of a single racial group” but added that “racial antagonism” never can justify such restrictions

F. F. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)Brown v. Board of Education (1954) reversed reversed Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson; “separate but equal” was ; “separate but equal” was “inherently unequal”“inherently unequal”

F. F. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)Brown v. Board of Education (1954) reversed reversed Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson; “separate but equal” was ; “separate but equal” was “inherently unequal”“inherently unequal”


G. Civil Rights Acts

1957—Commission on Civil Rights was created to investigate denial of voting rights and

violations of “equal protection under the law”

1960—gave enforcement powers to 1957 laws; made discriminatory harassment or use of force

against those who wanted to vote or to register to vote a federal offense

1964—outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and government-

owned or –operated facilities; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to oversee discriminatory practices by employers


G. Civil Rights Acts

1957—Commission on Civil Rights was created to investigate denial of voting rights and

violations of “equal protection under the law”

1960—gave enforcement powers to 1957 laws; made discriminatory harassment or use of force

against those who wanted to vote or to register to vote a federal offense

1964—outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and government-

owned or –operated facilities; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to oversee discriminatory practices by employers

Legal Precedents and Principles for Civil RightsLegal Precedents and Principles for Civil RightsH. Affirmative Action

President Johnson’s 1965 Executive Order 11246 required federal contractors to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin”

Expanded in 1967 to include affirmative action requirements benefit women

Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination based on age

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on physical disability


I. Voting Rights Act of 1965 place voter registration under federal control/authorityI. Voting Rights Act of 1965 place voter registration under federal control/authority

J. Swann v. Board of Education (1971) the busing of children was a proper means of overcoming deliberate school segregation; courts began to order busing to overcome racial imbalance

J. Swann v. Board of Education (1971) the busing of children was a proper means of overcoming deliberate school segregation; courts began to order busing to overcome racial imbalance

K. Regents of Univ of California v Bakke (1978) minority quotas/reverse discrimination unconstitutional; race and ethnic origins may be considered as one of many factors in admissions

K. Regents of Univ of California v Bakke (1978) minority quotas/reverse discrimination unconstitutional; race and ethnic origins may be considered as one of many factors in admissions


L. Bob Jones University v US (1983) IRS denial of tax exempt status on interracial policies was constitutional; “the government has a fundamental overriding interest in eradicating racial discrimination in education”; public policy superior to religiously held belief or educational intent of the institutionM. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000) the free association principles of the 1st amendment include freedom not to associate if a group engages in some form of expressive association (i.e. value or belief system inherent with their organization)

Events and Incidents of the Civil Rights MovementEvents and Incidents of the Civil Rights Movement

A. Rosa Parks (1955)

B. Little Rock Nine (1957)

C. Lunch Counters, Greensboro, NC (1960)

D. Freedom Rides (1961)

E. James Meredith (1962)

F. Bull in Birmingham (1963)

G. March on Washington (1963)

H. Freedom Summer (1964)

I. March on Selma (1965)

J. Watts (1965)

A. Rosa Parks (1955)

B. Little Rock Nine (1957)

C. Lunch Counters, Greensboro, NC (1960)

D. Freedom Rides (1961)

E. James Meredith (1962)

F. Bull in Birmingham (1963)

G. March on Washington (1963)

H. Freedom Summer (1964)

I. March on Selma (1965)

J. Watts (1965)

The Civil Rights Movement: Insights and OverviewsThe Civil Rights Movement: Insights and Overviews

The Civil Rights Movement addresses obvious social and legal inequities of American society

The Civil Rights Movement highlights the difficulty in equating morality with legality

The Civil Rights Movement encompasses a wide variety of social groups

Map African slave tradehttp://www.christianaction.org.za/articles_ca/2004-images/scourgeofslavery02.jpg

Slave shiphttp://www.medfordhistorical.org/images/middlepassage/slaveshipplan.jpg

Slave Population http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/images/slave_census_US_1860_b.jpg

Emancipation Proclamation

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/freedom/pop_docs/images/doc_large_4.jpg

Documents

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Recent and Contemporary U. S. of A