Civil Rights Movement 1950’s-1960’s

Truman’s Policy on Civil Rights Issued an executive order banning segregation in the armed forces. Issued an executive order banning segregation in the armed forces. Created a civil rights division to the Department of Justice. Created a civil rights division to the Department of Justice.

The Warren Court In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He would preside over the court till In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He would preside over the court till During that period, the court reached a number of society changing decisions, many of these involved civil rights. During that period, the court reached a number of society changing decisions, many of these involved civil rights.

Brown v. Board of Education Landmark court case where a young African American girl, Linda Brown requested the right to attend an all-white school in her Topeka, Kansas neighborhood. Landmark court case where a young African American girl, Linda Brown requested the right to attend an all-white school in her Topeka, Kansas neighborhood. Reversed the case Plessy v. Ferguson. Reversed the case Plessy v. Ferguson. NAACP became involved with the case NAACP became involved with the case Unanimous decision, separate but equal had no place in public education. Unanimous decision, separate but equal had no place in public education.

Little Rock Although the Brown case opened the door for desegregation, integration did not happen immediately. Many school systems in the south openly defied the court ruling. In 1957, the Governor of Arkansas ordered the states National Guard to prevent nine African American students from entering Little Rock Central High School.

Little Rock cont. The Governors defiance was a direct challenge to the Constitution so President Eisenhower placed the Arkansas National Guard under federal control and used it to then enforce integration. In 1959 the first racially integrated class graduated from Central High School.

Segregation Public facilities of all kinds were segregated in the South- schools, movie theatres, drinking fountains, etc. Rather than wait for court rulings to end segregation, in the 1950’s African Americans began to organize the Civil Rights Movement. Public facilities of all kinds were segregated in the South- schools, movie theatres, drinking fountains, etc. Rather than wait for court rulings to end segregation, in the 1950’s African Americans began to organize the Civil Rights Movement.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott In 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, a black woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man and move towards the back of the bus. She was arrested for her actions and her story inspired a boycott of the cities buses.

Boycott Cont. Martin Luther King Jr., a young Baptist minister, emerged as a leader of the protest. King studied the non-violent methods of Mohandas Gandhi and his dynamic speaking abilities drew the attention of a large number of people. Martin Luther King Jr., a young Baptist minister, emerged as a leader of the protest. King studied the non-violent methods of Mohandas Gandhi and his dynamic speaking abilities drew the attention of a large number of people. The boycott lasted 381 days and eventually the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal. The boycott lasted 381 days and eventually the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal.

Use of Civil Disobedience African Americans used a variety of approaches in the attempt to achieve justice. Many followed non-violent methods led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Civil Disobedience is the practice of intentionally breaking a law in order to show that it is unjust.

James Meredith In 1962, an African American Air Force veteran made headlines when he tried to enroll at the all-white University of Mississippi. The Governor of Mississippi personally tried to stop Meredith from enrolling. Riots broke out and federal marshals and the National Guard were called up and Meredith was allowed to enter the university and eventually graduated as well.

Greensboro Lunch counters were a version of our current fast-food restaurants and most Lunch counters in the south were segregated. In 1960, in Greensboro, N.C. a group of African Americans sat at a “white’s only” lunch counter and refused to leave till served. Lunch counters were a version of our current fast-food restaurants and most Lunch counters in the south were segregated. In 1960, in Greensboro, N.C. a group of African Americans sat at a “white’s only” lunch counter and refused to leave till served.

Birmingham March Birmingham, Alabama was considered to be the most segregated city in the south. At a march led by Martin Luther King Jr. police used dogs and fire hoses to break up the marchers and arrested more than 2,000 people. Television cameras captured the violent scenes and this shocked many Americans, helping strengthen the movement and eventually desegregating the city.

March on Washington Civil rights groups organized a huge march on Washington D.C. in August of 1963 to show support for a civil rights bill that President Kennedy wanted to be passed. At this march Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of more than 200,000 participants.

Johnson’s Civil Rights Act of 1964 This bill called for Protection of voting rights for all Americans Protection of voting rights for all Americans Opening of public facilities to all races Opening of public facilities to all races A commission to protect equal job opportunities for all Americans. A commission to protect equal job opportunities for all Americans.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States- This court case in 1964 said that segregation of private facilities engaged in interstate commerce was found unconstitutional.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 When many southern states continued to resist civil rights legislation and Supreme Court rulings, President Johnson passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that Put an end to literacy tests Put an end to literacy tests Authorized federal examiners to register voters in areas suspected of denying African Americans the right to vote. Authorized federal examiners to register voters in areas suspected of denying African Americans the right to vote. Directed the Attorney General of the United States to take legal action against states continuing to use poll taxes. Directed the Attorney General of the United States to take legal action against states continuing to use poll taxes.

Assassinations Malcolm X- who promoted black nationalism, leader of the civil rights movement Martin Luther King Jr. – was attending a sanitation workers march in Memphis, Tenn Sen. Robert Kennedy- a presidential candidate committed to civil rights.