What are “Civil rights”? The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality
The “Civil Rights Movement” we know…
Montgomery Bus Boycott-1955 Montgomery Alabama Rosa Parks, Dr. King
Lunch Counter Sit- Ins-1960 Greensboro, NC 4 NC A&T Students nationwide movement
Freedom Rides-1962 Integrated busses crossing state lines
Birmingham Campaign-1963 Strong segregation laws Police respond with fire hoses, dogs Thousands of youth involved Led to bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church
March on Washington-1963 “Jobs and Freedom” 200,000 black and white “I Have A Dream” speech
Freedom Summer-1964 Mississippi campaign Less than 5% of blacks were registered to vote In 10 weeks Over 1,000 arrested 80 workers beaten 37 churches bombed/burned At least 7 murders
March on Selma “Bloody Sunday” Selma Montgomery police brutality 600 Marchers turned back Return with support from LBJ & army
Assassination of MLK Jr-1968 Memphis, TN for Sanitation Workers Strike Shot by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel Ray had been a George Wallace campaigner, who was running for Pres
Black Power Movement Stokely Carmichael Malcolm X Black Panther Party Former SNCC member & freedom rider Malcolm X Activist within the Nation of Islam Often compared in contrast to Dr. King Black Panther Party 1966, militant self-defense, socialist
Other groups were fighting for equality in the 1960s & 1970s…
Latinos 1953-1958 “Operation Wetback” deported 3.8 million Many were actually citizens, several activists 1965- Cesar Chavez co-founds the United Farm Workers Supported immigration reform, protested discrimination/wages 1966- Law allowing all Cubans living in US for 1 year citizenship 1970- Students cannot be denied educational programs because they cannot speak English 1974- Bilingual programs in schools
Native Americans 1961- National Indian Youth Council Pushed for advocacy and pride At least 43,000 fought in Vietnam 1968- Indian Civil Rights Act Conflict between Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and American Indian Movement (AIM) 1970- Nixon speech supported Natives, denouncing past policies
LGBTQ Movement began in the early 1900s 1962- Illinois 1st state to decriminalize homosexuality Stonewall Riot in June 1969 at a bar in Greenwich Village (NYC) 1973- American Psychiatric Assoc. removes it from list of mental disorders Harvey Milk 1st openly gay elected politician California--- assassinated in 1978
Women Women’s rights in the US date back to 1848 1960- 80% of American wives were on birth control Huge gender role changes, women in workforce 1967- LBJ executive order adding “gender” to discrimination laws 1972- Title IX- equal funding in schools for males and females 1973- Roe v. Wade- Court overturns state laws regarding abortion access
Young People Young people, particularly college students played a huge role in nearly all of these movements Subculture emerges- Beatniks, Hippies, etc Heavily influence music, fashion Anti-War demonstrations Teens pressure gov’t about voting rights 18 to draft for Vietnam war, 21 to vote 26th Amendment passed in 1971
Exam Practice Throughout our history, civil rights in the United States have been expanded to protect the social and political freedom of all citizens. Take a position for or against the above statement. Provide at least two specific examples (Supreme Court cases, protests/movements, amendments, laws, etc) to support your position. Respond in organized, complete sentences.