American History Topic 9, Lesson 2: The Movement Surges Forward

How was the March on Washington instrumental in motivating the Civil Rights Act (CRA)?

-the march raised awareness of the movement and built momentum for the passage of civil rights legislation

What did the freedom riders hope to accomplish?

-they wanted to test the federal government's willingness to enforce the law that was ruled on in Boyton v. Virginia that segregation on interstate buses was illegal

Was the March on Washington effective? Why/Why not?

-yes -it attracted more than 200,000 people to Washington and a large audience on live television -it increased awareness of the movement and built momentum for the passage of civil rights legislation

What were the Freedom Rides of the 1960s?

-1961 group of African American protesters riding a bus from Washington, D.C. bound for New Orleans, Louisiana--defying segregationist codes along the way --African Americans sat in fronts of buses and used whites only restrooms in bus stations -faced dangerous situations where white mobs attacked the buses and riders

March on Washington

-1963 demonstration in which more than 200,000 people rallied for economic equality and civil rights

How were the roles of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers in the civil rights movement?

-MLK: advocated non-violent means of protest; March on Washington; inspiring others to join the movement; assassinated April 1968 -Evers: civil rights activist; helped James Meredith integrate the University of Mississippi; assassinated in June 1963

What made the Civil Rights movement successful?

-Martin Luther King, Jr. was an inspiration and advocated for nonviolence -March on Washington--people around the country came to D.C. or watched on TV and the event raised awareness for the cause

James Meredith

-attended an all-black college before becoming the first black student at the University of Mississippi in 1962 -after he graduated, he earned a law degree and became involved in Republican politics -he was shot in Mississippi while on a protest march in 1966

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do for greater equality for African Americans?

-banned segregation in public accommodations and gave the federal government the ability to make state and local school boards to desegregate their schools -allowed the Justice Department to prosecute individuals who violated people's civil rights -outlawed discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex, or national origin -established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which is responsible for enforcing these provisions and investigating charges of job discrimination

Medgar Evers

-became the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi in 1954 -he traveled the state recruiting members and organized voter registration drives, demonstrations, and boycotts of companies that practiced discrimination -in 1963, he was assassinated outside of his home in Jackson, Mississippi

How were the protests at Birmingham and the March on Washington linked to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

-because of the violent acts against the nonviolent protesters in Birmingham, President Kennedy sent to Congress a proposal for a sweeping civil rights legislation -to put pressure on Congress to pass the new civil rights bill and to improve economic opportunities for blacks, supporters had an event (March on Washington) that brought together the major political organizations promoting civil rights (NAACP, SCLC, SNCC)

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

-grass roots movement founded in 1960 by young civil rights activists

What actions did James Meredith take in the early 1960s?

-he was an African American Air Force veteran who wanted to enroll in the University of Mississippi (all-white school) -he won a federal court case that said he could attend the school

Why did the James Meredith case result in a riot?

-he was an African American and he wanted to enroll at the University of Mississippi (an all-white school) -Mississippi governor did not want to integrate the school -rumors started of Meredith's arrival on September 30th, on the University's campus, federal marshals were protecting him -riots erupted overnight with the intent to scare him away

How did President Kennedy react to the battles over civil rights and the freedom riders in the 1960s?

-his administration worked out a deal with Mississippi's leaders, police, state troopers agreed to protect the riders -the Federal Transportation Commission also issued an order mandating desegregation of interstate transportation -in exchange, Kennedy administration agreed not to intervene when Mississippi authorities arrested the activists and sentenced them to jail for disturbing the peace

Civil Rights Act of 1964

-outlawed discrimination in public places and employment based on race, religion, or national origin

What were the sit-ins of the early 1960s?

-protests where participants sit at lunch counters until closing time -these led to "wade-ins" at public beaches -also led to "read-ins" at public libraries

George Wallace

-served as governor of Alabama from 1963-1967 -ran for president in 1968 on the American Independent Party ticket, championing states rights and winning 5 southern states in the election -serving 3 more terms as governor (1971-1979, 1983-1987) he eventually renounced his segregationist beliefs

filibuster

-tactic by which senators give long speeches to hold up legislative business

How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 address minority rights in the U.S.?

-the act banned segregation in public accommodations and gave the federal government the ability to compel state and local school boards to desegregate their schools -allowed the Justice Department to prosecute individuals who violated people's civil rights and outlawed discrimination in employment on account of race, color, sex, or national origin -Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing these provisions and investigating charges of job discrimination

Freedom Ride

1961 protest by activists who rode buses through southern states to test their compliance with laws banning segregation on interstate buses

sit-in

form of protest during which participants sit and refuse to move