Essential Question What were the important events of the Civil Rights Movement? What were the important events of the Civil Rights Movement?

The Civil Rights Movement Begins

“Separate But Equal” 1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson ruled that laws segregating African Americans and whites were legal as long as equal facilities were provided for both 1896 – Plessy v. Ferguson ruled that laws segregating African Americans and whites were legal as long as equal facilities were provided for both

Jim Crow Laws Evident throughout the South Evident throughout the South Buses, trains, schools, restaurant, amusement parks, swimming pools Buses, trains, schools, restaurant, amusement parks, swimming pools The decision of each community The decision of each community

NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1909) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1909) Began the Civil Rights Movement Began the Civil Rights Movement

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Part of the Civil Rights Movement Part of the Civil Rights Movement Used sit-ins to protest segregation (e.g. restaurants) Used sit-ins to protest segregation (e.g. restaurants)

Brown v. Board of Education Thurgood Marshall – African American attorney who focused his attention on public schools Thurgood Marshall – African American attorney who focused his attention on public schools Linda Brown denied access to her neighborhood school in Topeka, Kansas Linda Brown denied access to her neighborhood school in Topeka, Kansas

Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional

Montgomery Bus Boycott Started by Rosa Parks Started by Rosa Parks Challenge to segregation on public transportation Challenge to segregation on public transportation

Martin Luther King Jr. “Now let us say that we are not advocating violence... The only weapon we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest. If we are incarcerated behind the iron curtains of a communist nation – we couldn’t do this. If we were trapped in the dungeon of a totalitarian regime – we couldn’t do this. But the great glory of American democracy is the right to protest for right!”

Martin Luther King Jr. Believed the only moral way to end segregation and racism was through nonviolent passive resistance Believed the only moral way to end segregation and racism was through nonviolent passive resistance Public opinion would bring change Public opinion would bring change

Montgomery Bus Boycott Lasted over one year Lasted over one year Dec – Supreme Court declared Alabama’s laws requiring segregation on buses to be unconstitutional Dec – Supreme Court declared Alabama’s laws requiring segregation on buses to be unconstitutional

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Group of African American ministers led by King Group of African American ministers led by King Challenged segregation throughout the South, encouraged voting Challenged segregation throughout the South, encouraged voting

Little Rock, Arkansas Sept – nine African Americans to attend Central High School Sept – nine African Americans to attend Central High School Governor ordered National Guard to prevent this Governor ordered National Guard to prevent this

Little Rock, Arkansas Pres. Eisenhower was forced to send U.S. Army troops to guard the school, escort African American students Pres. Eisenhower was forced to send U.S. Army troops to guard the school, escort African American students

Challenging Segregation

The Sit-In Movement Began at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, NC Began at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, NC Became a mass movement for civil rights Became a mass movement for civil rights

Freedom Riders Teams of African Americans and whites rode through the South together on buses Teams of African Americans and whites rode through the South together on buses Faced violence in Alabama Faced violence in Alabama

James Meredith Attempted to enroll at the University of Mississippi Attempted to enroll at the University of Mississippi Kennedy sent federal troops to escort him to classes Kennedy sent federal troops to escort him to classes

Birmingham MLK understood that the federal government intervened only when violence and disorder occurred in southern cities MLK understood that the federal government intervened only when violence and disorder occurred in southern cities

Birmingham Spring 1963 – MLK led demonstrations in this city Spring 1963 – MLK led demonstrations in this city MLK was arrested, wrote letters while in jail in defense of nonviolent protest MLK was arrested, wrote letters while in jail in defense of nonviolent protest

Birmingham, AL Public Safety Commissioner used force against protestors – clubs, police dogs, firehoses Public Safety Commissioner used force against protestors – clubs, police dogs, firehoses All watched on television by Americans All watched on television by Americans Kennedy forced to act Kennedy forced to act

John F. Kennedy “One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free... And this nation, for all its hopes and for all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free... Now the time has come for this nation to fulfill its promise.”

March on Washington Aug – led by MLK Aug – led by MLK Used to lobby Congress and gain public support Used to lobby Congress and gain public support 200,000 demonstrators flocked to Washington D.C. 200,000 demonstrators flocked to Washington D.C.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Most comprehensive civil rights law Most comprehensive civil rights law Gave the federal government power to prevent racial discrimination in all public places, jobs, schools Gave the federal government power to prevent racial discrimination in all public places, jobs, schools

24 th Amendment Eliminated poll taxes (fees paid in order to vote) Eliminated poll taxes (fees paid in order to vote)

Selma Demonstration Led by MLK to protest voting restrictions – became a protest march Led by MLK to protest voting restrictions – became a protest march Peaceful protestors attacked by state troopers and deputized citizens Peaceful protestors attacked by state troopers and deputized citizens

Selma Demonstration “Bloody Sunday” – televised violence “Bloody Sunday” – televised violence Nation was stunned, president Johnson furious Nation was stunned, president Johnson furious

Voting Rights Act of 1965 No literacy tests No literacy tests Federal examiners allowed to register qualified voters (not local officials) Federal examiners allowed to register qualified voters (not local officials)