Selma: Bridge to Ballot

Why did Dr. King come to Selma?

He was prompted by the Dallas County Voters League to come and see what was happening.

How did the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson affect the campain?

It made the them mad and sad to know people could do such a thing.

Why was President Johnson's use of the phrase, "we shall overcome" meaningful to the marchers?

It was a phrase used by African American in the civil rights movement which made them think he was on their side.

What was the significance of the barricade around George Washington Carver Homes?

It was supposed to keep people from protesting, but teenagers were able to slip by.

What happened in Selma after Bloody Sunday made national news?

MLK asked other religious leaders to join him in marching to Selma.

How did student activists oppose segregation and injustice in Selma?

Non-violent acts like going to places where blacks were not allowed like movie theaters, they risked getting hurt

What obstacles kept most black citizens from being able to vote?

Poll taxes and literacy tests

What inspired the voting rights act in Alabama?

Sixteenth Street Church bombing in Birmingham, led to Civil Rights Act

Why did marchers turn around the second time they gathered at Edmund Pettus Bridge?

There was a federal court order to stop the march and MLK didn't want to violate the order.

What was the significance of the teachers joining the protest? What risks did they face?

They showed they supported the students. They risked getting thrown in jail or getting hurt.

How did the segregationist judge and sheriff respond to the demonstrations?

They used force to get rid of the protesters

Why did demonstrators march on the court house every single day?

They wanted to show they were the ones being denied the right to vote.

Why were students better able than adults to organize and protest?

They weren't at risk for being fired from their jobs or evicted from their farms.