Post on 25-Dec-2015
Civil Rights Movement A political, legal, and social struggle to gain full
citizenship rights for African Americans. Challenged segregation, the system of laws, and
customs separating the races. Movement challenged segregation through:
protests, marches, boycotts, and refusal to abide by segregation laws.
Segregation Common Post-Reconstruction
1877. South passed local and state laws
that specified certain places “For Whites Only” and others for “Colored.”
African Americans had separate schools, transportation, restaurants, and parks, many of which were inferior to those of whites
Drinking fountain on county courthouse lawn, Halifax, North Carolina;
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF34-9058-C]
Segregation
Included disenfranchisement-the denial of voting rights.
1890-1910-all Southern states passed laws imposing requirements for voting.
Used to prevent African Americans from voting. (in spite of 15th amendment)
Voting Requirements: Literacy, property ownership, and a poll tax.
Segregation
The National Afro-American League was formed in 1890
W.E.B. Du Bois helped create National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
NAACP became one of most important organizations of 20th century.
Relied on legal strategies that challenged segregation and discrimination in court.
School Desegregation May 1954, the Court issued its landmark ruling in
Brown v. Board of Edstating racially segregated education was unconstitutional and overturning the Plessy decision.
By 1955, white opposition in the South had grown into massive resistance
Tactics included firing school employees who showed willingness to seek integration, closing public schools rather than desegregating, and boycotting all public education that was integrated.
School Desegregation Almost no schools in South segregatedin
first years following Brown In 1957, Governor Orval Faubus defied a
federal court order to admit nine African American students to Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation.
School Desegregation Many only desegregated in theory…many
racially segregated neighborhoods led to segregated schools.
To overcome the problem, some school districts began busing students to schools outside their neighborhoods in the 1970s.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott December 1955, Rosa Parks, a member of
the Montgomery, Alabama, branch of the NAACP, was told to give up her seat on a city bus to a white person.
When she refused to move she was arrested.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Leads to bus boycott: Immediate success with almost unanimous support from African Americans in Montgomery.
MLK Jr. directed boycott and became national figure
Lasted over a year Nov. 1956-federal court ordered that
Montgomery buses be desegregated Boycott=victory
Sit-Ins
February 1, 1960, four African American college students from North Carolina A&T University began protesting racial segregation in restaurants by sitting at “White Only” lunch counters and waiting to be served.
Sparks sit-ins throughout North Carolina
Freedom Riders
After sit-in movement, some SNCC members participate in 1961 Freedom Rides
Both African American and White traveled to South in buses to test effectiveness 1960 U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring segregation illegal in bus stations open to interstate travel.
Began in D.C. traveled to Alabama where they were met with violence
Freedom Riders Brings national attention JFK steps in to protect Freedom Riders But when they travel to Mississippi they
were arrested ending the rides. Leads to desegregation of bus stations, but
most importantly gains National Attention.
Desegregating Southern Universities 1962-James Meredith applies for admission to U. of
Miss.they attempted to block admission, but the federal court ordered the University to desegregate and accept Meredith.
Gov. Ross Barnett defied court order & tried to prevent him from enrolling
Kennedy sends federal troops-1st night riot breaks out-2 killed hundreds wounded
Similar situation in Alabamacombo prompts JFK to take action-1963-Kennedy proposed civil rights legislation
The March on Washington
Leaders Planned a March on Washington Aug. 1963-to keep pressure on Kennedy
MLK Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech to over 200,000
JFK assassinated in Nov. 1963-LBJ strongly urges passage of civil rights legislation-pushed Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress.
It prohibited segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in education and employment.
Still important rights missing…
VOTING RIGHTS!
VOTING = important because individuals elect people who change laws
Resistance- Poll Tax and Literacy Tests
Selma Campaign
Concentrated on Voter Registration (AL)
Demonstrations began-Demonstrators treated brutally: one shot
In response King organized a 50 mile protest march from Selma to Montgomery (March 7, 1965)
Again television helped the cause
The End of the Movement
For many people the civil rights movement ended with the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.
Still others argue the movement continues today because the goal of full equality has not yet been achieved.
Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights Act of 1964-outlawed outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.[6] It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public (known as "public accommodations").
Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Voting Rights Act of 1965-prohibits racial discrimination in voting
Designed to enforce voting rights guaranteed by 14th and 15th Amendments
Impact of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights Act of 1968-provides for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or national origin
Impacts of the Movement
Huge increase in the #s of African-Americans graduating high school and college
Increase in African pride/identity: Political Gains: Jesse Jackson ran for Pres.
1988; 2/3 eligible voters were registered; today - OBAMA
Unfinished Work Much of school
desegregation reversed by 1990s: 50-75% of African Americans attend almost completely black schools
Poverty rate = 3x’s whites Affirmative Action – began
1960s 1970s criticized as
“reverse discrimination”