1. The Civil Rights Movement

2. Beginning of the Movement
Plessy v. Ferguson- “separate but equal”
After this, laws encouraging segregation (aka Jim Crow laws) spread quickly
They segregated buses, trains, schools, restaurants, pools, parks, etc.
Most common in the South, but existed in North too
Areas w/o segregation laws often had de facto segregation (segregation by tradition)
NAACP has been fighting segregation for years
Some victories, but not many
AAs also got more political power
Great Migration- moved to North, where they can vote
They also benefited from the New Deal

3. Beginning of the Movement
WWII- AA leaders began using their power for more rights
1942- CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) founded
Began using sit-ins (peaceful protest) to desegregate restaurants
Successfully integrated many restaurants, theaters, etc.
Brown v. Board of Education- Segregation in public schools is unconstitutional
Southern Manifesto- White southerners defied the ruling by continuing segregation

4. Beginning of the Movement
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks decided to challenge segregation of public transportation
This began the boycott
Martin Luther King Jr. led the way
They met in churches, where they were encouraged to protest
This had to be peaceful- getting arrested doesn’t help
Many whites already don’t like AAs, so violence would only make that worse

5. Beginning of the Movement
MLK used the ideas of Mohandas Gandhi (used nonviolent resistance to end British rule in India)
MLK established the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.
Challenged segregation in voting booths, public transportation, housing, and public accommodations.
1960- Woolworth’s (white’s only lunch counter)
4 AAs staged a sit-in
Soon, sit-ins were happening all over the country

6. Beginning of the Movement
Little Rock, AK- Sept. 1957
The school board wanted to admit 9 AAs into Central High School (2,000 white students)
Gov. Orval Faubus ordered in troops to stop this
The next day, the AK National Guard, TV cameras, and a white mob were there.
This was the 1st time a state had challenged the fed. gov’t since Reconstruction.
Eisenhower knew he couldn’t let this happen, so he ordered the governor to remove the troops
He did, but he left the mob
Angry whites beat 2 AA reporters and destroyed some school windows
Eisenhower ordered in the army to keep order
The students came to school, protected by the army
They had to stay at the school for the rest of the school year

7. Challenging Segregation
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)
Sit-ins became more popular, so students formed SNCC to become organized
They went South,-they were beaten and lives threatened
Freedom Riders
1961- CORE asked teams of AAs and whites to travel to South to integrate bus terminals
Led to violence that JFK had to intervene

8. Challenging Segregation
JFK
Big supporter of civil rights (a lot of AA votes)
Once in office, he was more cautious
Robert Kennedy (RFK)- encouraged AAs to register to vote
Encouraged Freedom Riders to “cool off”
JFK struck a deal w/Sen. James Eastland of Mississippi
If violence stopped, JFK wouldn’t object if Mississippi police arrested Freedom Riders
CORE used all funds to bail Freedom Riders out of jail
JFK ordered ICC to increase regulations against segregation in bus terminals
By 1962, segregation on interstate travel ended
Also, had to send troops when James Meredith wanted to register at the U. of Mississippi

9. Challenging Segregation
Civil Rights Act of 1964
AL Gov. George Wallace blocked the way for 2 AAs to register for college.
JFK announced Civil Rights bill
MLK put pressure on Congress to pass it
200,000 demonstrators in DC
Senators did what they could to slow it down (filibuster)
Cloture can stop that (60 senators)
After JFK’s assassination, LBJ got the bill through
It gave the fed. gov’t power to stop racial discrimination in public places, bring lawsuits to end school segregation, and to require employers to end discrimination in workplace.
Voting Rights Act of gave attorney general the right to send fed. examiners to register voters
Bypassing local officials who wouldn’t register AAs
Suffrage cannot be denied because of race

10. Challenging Segregation
Black Power
Young AAs called for black power
AAs should control social, political, and economic direction of their struggle
Opposed cultural assimilation (Black pride)
Malcolm X (Nation of Islam)- believed AAs should separate themselves from whites
Later broke from N of I and believed an integrated society was possible
members of N of I shot and killed him
Black Panthers- militant AA leaders preached Black Power, Black Nationalism, and economic self-sufficiency
Revolution was necessary
MLK Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968
Mourning and riots broke out in more than 100 cities
Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which contained fair housing provision in reaction