AI Flashcards Civil Rights
(17 cards)
What was the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?
It legalised “separate but equal” segregation, embedding racial discrimination in law and encouraging Jim Crow policies across the South.
How did Brown v. Board of Education (1954) impact the Civil Rights Movement?
Declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Symbolically vital; reversed Plessy. Inspired activism but had weak enforcement (Brown II 1955).
Why is Bakke v. Regents of the University of California (1978) important?
Limited affirmative action. Showed the Supreme Court was moving away from strong support for civil rights by the late 1970s.
Was the Supreme Court consistently supportive of civil rights?
No. It hindered early progress (Plessy, Williams), helped in the 1950s–70s (Brown, Swann), but often lacked enforcement power or consistency.
How did President Eisenhower support civil rights?
Sent federal troops to enforce school desegregation in Little Rock (1957), but was generally passive on civil rights legislation.
What were LBJ’s major contributions to civil rights?
Passed the Civil Rights Act (1964) – outlawed segregation and discrimination; and Voting Rights Act (1965) – banned literacy tests and allowed federal voter registration.
How did Nixon and Reagan affect civil rights progress?
Nixon supported affirmative action but focused on “law and order.” Reagan opposed busing and affirmative action, often slowing progress.
Why is federal legislation more impactful than Supreme Court rulings alone?
Laws like the 1964 and 1965 Acts had clear mechanisms for enforcement (e.g., funding cuts, federal oversight), unlike vague court rulings.
What role did grassroots protest play in civil rights progress?
Created public pressure and urgency that often led to legal change (e.g., Montgomery Bus Boycott → Browder v. Gayle; Selma → Voting Rights Act).
How did the Birmingham Campaign (1963) affect public opinion and politics?
Televised police brutality shocked Americans. Pressured Kennedy and Congress to act, contributing to the Civil Rights Act 1964.
What was the impact of the March on Washington (1963)?
Demonstrated mass support for civil rights, with 250,000 attendees. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech became a national symbol.
How did media shape the Civil Rights Movement?
Televised events like Selma (Bloody Sunday), Birmingham, and protests revealed the brutality of segregation to a national audience, galvanising public support.
How did cultural changes in the 70s–80s affect civil rights?
The rise of Black Power, Afrocentrism, and Black representation in media reshaped identity and pushed for pride beyond legal rights.
Link Brown v. Board to the Little Rock Crisis (1957)
Brown declared segregation illegal. In 1957, Arkansas resisted, prompting Eisenhower to send troops, showing how court rulings relied on federal enforcement.
How did grassroots activism and court rulings interact?
Activism often triggered legal cases (e.g., Montgomery → Browder v. Gayle), while rulings (e.g., Brown) encouraged further protest.
Compare the impact of Brown (1954) and the Civil Rights Act (1964)
Brown was symbolic but limited in enforcement. The CRA 1964 legally ended segregation and could be enforced, making it more practical and impactful.
Name the order of the important Civil Rights Presidents
FD Roosevelt
Truman
Eisenhower
Kennedy
Johnson
Nixon
Carter
Reagan
