Separate but Unequal Lesson starter: Why did World War Two put more pressure on the government to give Black Americans Civil Rights?

Today we will… Understand why the Civil Rights Movement grew after WWII Identify some cases which proved Black Americans would no longer settle for ‘Separate but Unequal’

Background… During WWII, Black Americans fought for a country which would not treat them as equals The Great Migration had highlighted discrimination issues and showed that racism was not only a Southern problem

Case 1 Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education Topeka, Kansas 8 year old Linda Brown’s father thought it was wrong she had to go to a school for Black children The school was further away than the white school and was badly looked after Her father took the School Board to court It eventually reached the Supreme Court (most important court) Linda Brown

Decision In 1954 the Supreme Court judged that ‘separate education facilities were unequal’ They decided schools should be desegregated This was the first victory of the Civil Rights Movement The Supreme Court had made a U Turn since 1896

Problem Southern States tried to ignore the Supreme Court’s decision Schools which tried to desegregate were met by violent mobs and KKK attacks

Case 2 Little Rock, Arkansas Central High School decided to take nine Black students in September 1957 The governor of Arkansas was against desegregation He sent state soldiers to stop the children getting into school An angry white mob also gathered outside the school who intimidated and spat on the students Arkansas state Governor

State troops directing Elizabeth Eckford away from the school

An angry white mob shout abuse at Elizabeth Eckford

Elizabeth Eckford My knees started to shake and I wondered if I would make it in the school. The crowd moved closer and closer…they shouted ‘ let’s take care of that nigger!’

The Decision President Eisenhower was not willing to allow this He removed the Arkansas state soldiers He put in 1000 US troops to protect the Black students They stayed for a year, even patrolling corridors The case drew worldwide attention for civil rights President Eisenhower

Troops outside Central High School

US troops stayed for over a year

Case 3 James Meredith at Ole Miss 1962, a black student James Meredith tried to attend Mississippi Law School (Ole’ Miss) The Mississippi authorities banned his entrance September 30 over 500 federal marshals accompanied him for protection They were met by a white mob of and riots broke out Riots broke out – 2 journalists killed James Meredith

Violent riots broke out

The Decision JFK had to send 16,000 troops to protect Meredith and restore order Troops remained there for a year to protect one black student

What do these three cases show? The US government was no longer willing to let Southern States do what they wanted Southern States would be forced to integrate