1. The Struggle for Civil Rights

2. A Brief History of Civil Rights to the 1950s 1863: Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery in the South. 1865: 13 th Amendment ended slavery throughout the U.S. 1866: 14 th Amendment granted citizenship rights to “all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.” 1870: 15 th Amendment stated people could NOT be denied the right to vote based on race.

3. Despite this constitutional progress, the Southern states responded with: poll taxes Literacy tests grandfather clauses Jim Crow laws  segregation in the South In 1896, the Supreme Court legalized “separate but equal” in Plessy v. Ferguson.

4. Although there were attempts at reform during the Progressive Era (the NAACP was formed in 1909), the South clung tightly to strictly defined classes and rules based on race until well into the 1950s.

5. WWII: A Turning Point Many African Americans served with honor during WWII—the Marines enlisted African Americans for the first time and the Navy commissioned first African American officers during the war. Despite their efforts, African Americans served in segregated units. Having fought a war against oppression and in favor of human rights, Truman issued Executive Order 9981 in 1948—which ended segregation in the U.S. armed forces.  This would prove to be the beginning of a concerted effort by African Americans to finalize realize the equality that had been promised to them nearly 100 years before...

6. The Beginning of Change: Brown vs. Board of Education In 1954, the Supreme Court, hearing a claim from parents in Topeka Kansas, declared that “segregated educational facilities are inherently unequal.” Despite this ruling, the South would cling tightly to their segregated class structure.

7. 1950s Racism and the Social Structure in the South: The Story of Emmett Till

8. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas—1954 Significance: 1 st step in southern desegregation sent message that federal government supported African American rights met w/ GREAT resistance in the South

9. Montgomery Bus Boycott—1955 Significance: proved effectiveness of non- violence pushed MLK to forefront desegregated Montgomery buses

10. Southern Christian Leadership Conference—1957 Significance: Most active civil rights group promoted non-violent approach

11. Little Rock Nine—1957 Significance: proved that federal government was behind desegregation

12. Sit-In Movement—1960 Significance: national news coverage  widespread /white support policies changed store by store

13. Freedom Riders Mobilized—1961 Significance: Federal Interstate Commerce Commission issued rules to integrate all bus and train stations.

14. Birmingham Campaign—1963 Significance: proved importance of media coverage/success of non-violence Birmingham began desegregation

15. Activity: Primary Source Analysis “Other America” “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

16. JFK’s Address on Civil Rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BEhKgoA86U

17. March On Washington http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk Significance: brought more national attention to Civil Rights cause led to Civil Rights Act 1964

18. Civil Rights Act 1964 Banned discrimination in employment and ALL public accommodations—gave federal government power to enforce desegregation EVERYWHERE

19. Voting Rights Act 1965 What was it? Literacy tests, poll taxes, etc. were outlawed gave federal government power to oversee local and national elections for fairness Significance: within 3 weeks, 27,000 African Americans had registered to vote in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana

20. Conclusions 1955—1965: Federal government took increasingly strong steps to ensure federal laws regarding CR were upheld Early movement ended de jure segregation (legal), BUT de facto segregation (in practice) continued. --Neighborhoods, bank loans, employment By 1965, many African Americans were losing patience with the slow pace of real progress in their daily lives...