Chapter 19 Civil Rights Movement
Birth of the Civil Rights Movement -Civil Rights movement begins in the late 1940’s. -Spread nationally in the 1960’s. -Major changes began with Brown vs. Board of Ed and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. -Major group working for change was NAACP -Started in 1909 -National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Other major groups were: 1. CORE -Congress of Racial Equality -Interracial group started during WWII to stop segregation. 2.SCLC -Southern Christian Leadership Conference. -Focused mainly in south. -Created ideas of Nonviolent Protest. 3.SNCC -Youth wanted to be involved in the movement. -Created SNCC [Snick] -Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. -Gave youth a major voice in politics and in the protest movement. -Led by Robert Moses. -Different from others b/c SNCC wanted immediate changes. -After Montgomery Bus Boycott, MLK becomes the head of the entire civil rights movement.
Sit-Ins -The early civil rights movement used only nonviolent protests. -Major form of nonviolent protest was Sit- Ins. -Began in 1943 at segregated Chicago lunch-counter. -Used mainly in the 1960s and often resulted in arrest and jail time. -Most famous was at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, NC.
Freedom Rides -Supreme Court rules bus segregation illegal in -Boynton Vs. Virginia. -Never enforced in the south. CORE and SNCC begin Freedom Rides. -Civil rights activists ride public buses into south to force desegregation. -1st ride left Washington, DC on May 4th -Met only minor confrontations. -Riders switched into 2 separate buses in Atlanta. -1st bus goes to Anniston, AL. -Met by huge white mob that fire bombs the bus. -Those who survived the fire were beaten by KKK and police. -2nd bus travels into Birmingham and Montgomery, AL. -Chief of Police in Birmingham, “Bull” Conner directs the bus using police cars to areas with huge white mobs. “Bull” Conner “Bull” Conner -Police use fire hoses and police dogs on the riders. -TV and newspaper pictures of the Freedom Rides push the majority of Americans to want civil rights. Attorney General Robert Kennedy creates a new law to enforce the Supreme Court ruling on bus segregation.
“Ole Miss” -Majority of southern colleges still segregated in the 1960’s. -Black student James Meredith tries to enroll at University of Mississippi. -Governor of Mississippi personally blocks door to prevent him from enrolling. -Case reaches Supreme Court and rules on Meredith’s side. -Causes huge violence at university. -2 killed 1000s wounded. -JFK sends 538 US Marshals to escort Meredith to class Meredith would graduate from the University and become major member of the civil rights movement. Shot by sniper during “March from Selma.”
Birmingham ► -MLK goes to Birmingham to protest massive segregation in the city. ► -Begins with nonviolent protests. ► -MLK and protestors arrested and jailed for 1 week. ► -MLK writes “Letters from a Birmingham Jail.” -Series of editorials on the situation in Birmingham written while MLK is in jail. ► -While in jail, MLK decides to allow children to protest along with their parents. ► -Plans a march from Selma to Montgomery, AL. ► -Bull Conner again uses police dogs and fire hoses against the protestors. ► -Arrests 500 children. ► -Photos and news coverage force AL to desegregate all public areas.
The White House and Integration -Kennedy moved slowly on civil rights. -Angered the many Southern Democrats who voted for Kennedy. -After Birmingham, Kennedy begins to push strong civil rights agenda. -On August 28, 1963 MLK organizes a protest march to DC. -200,000 attend; MLK gives “I Have A Dream Speech” speech.“I Have A Dream Speech” -Bills were vetoed in Congress b/c of pressure from Southern Congressmen.
LBJ and Civil Rights -LBJ helps to get Kennedy’s bill passed after assassination [Honor Kennedy’s memory] in June Johnson also creates Civil Rights Act of -Outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. -Banned discrimination in all aspects of life. -LBJ also passes Voting Rights Act of 1965 -Helped to register and allow African Americans to vote in the South. -Allowed 400,000 new black voters to register and vote. -Lastly, LBJ passes 24th Amendment. -No poll taxes to vote
Black Radical Movement -Many people were happy with results of civil rights movement and the government’s stance towards it. -Others felt it was too slow [Too little too late]. -Divided the movement into 2 groups: 1.MLK’s nonviolent protestors 2.Black Power Movement
Black Power Movement -Led by Stokely Carmichael -Wanted African Americans to unite & regain heritage. -Supported violence to gain their goals.
Nation of Islam -Black Muslims. -Black Muslims. -Founded in Chicago by Elijah Muhammad. -Founded in Chicago by Elijah Muhammad. -Wanted separate identity for African Americans in the U.S. -Wanted separate identity for African Americans in the U.S. -Rejected integration. -Rejected integration. -Did not agree with nonviolent protest. -Did not agree with nonviolent protest. Led by Malcolm X Led by Malcolm X –Civil rights activist born Malcolm Little. –Changed his views in 1965& began to work with civil rights leaders. –Assassinated in Feb in NYC.
Black Panthers ► -New militant political party. ► -Created by Bobby Seale & Huey Newton. ► -“Power flows from the barrel of a gun.” ► -SNCC & Black Panthers moved away from NAACP b/c of desire to use violence to reach goals. ► -Major scene of violence occurs in Watts area of L.A. on 8/11/65. ► -6 days of riots, looting, and burning over the beating of a black driver by police. ► -34 people died, 1000s injured. ► -Turns Americans against the civil rights movement b/c of the amount of violence, especially the White House. ► -Major changes to the U.S. made it impossible for the movement to die.
MLK Assassination April 4, 1968 MLK is assassinated in Memphis, Tn. James Earl Ray is brought to trial Found guilty and sentenced to 99 years in jail. Claims innocence and hints a conspiracy In 1997, King’s family meet with Ray and agree he didn’t shoot King Ask for an investigation in to conspiracy