US civil rights Flashcards
What was the civil rights movement fighting for
Desegregations
Removal of Jim Crow laws
Voting rights (15th amendment granted African American men to vote in 1870 19th amendment granted black women the right to vote in 1920 however it was very difficult for black people to access their right to vote)
Brown vs Topeka board of education
1954, said schools had to desegregate as previously it was allowed as the Ferguson vs Plessy case said “separate but equal” was fine. This was overturned
Birmingham march
Birmingham was very racist and segregated
Police Chief Eugene “bull” Connor supported segregation heavily
Protests began April 2nd 1963, “bull” Connor ordered police dogs and high power fire hoses on the protesters, 3,400 young people were arrested, MLK was arrested April 12th
May 9th agreement ended the protests and the city was forced to desegregate within 90 days
Evidence of success
Media attention, photos in papers meant more people were aware of the issue
Political support, at little rock the federal troops were sent to help escort the black student at school showing governmental support for the movement
Civil right act signed July 2nd 1964 by Lyndon Johnson banned discrimination in education, workplace and public spaces
Voting rights act 1965 aimed to help remove barriers black people faced when trying to vote
Evidence of failure
BLM movement in 2020 shows black people are still faced with racism
Many people were arrested and protesters were faced with violence
Central high school in Little rock invited black students to join the school however on 9 attended they were faced with large crowds preventing them from entering the school
Many schools did not desegregate as they took advantage of
When was the civil right act signed
July 2nd 1964 by Lyndon Johnson
