Civil Rights

Question 1

Describe the limitations that were placed on African Americans during WWII.

Answer 1

-Black Americans had to serve in segregated units.
-Black soldiers were not allowed to combat in the Marines
-The US air-force would not accept black pilots
-Black nurses were only allowed to treat black soldiers
-Black blood for black soldiers
-Black soldiers were given menial jobs or made to do the most dangerous ones.

Question 2

How did President Eisenhower feel about African Americans in the army during WWII?

Answer 2

He supported it, and encouraged the introduction of integrated combat units.

Question 3

By 1945, how many black pilots were there?

Answer 3

600

Question 4

During WWII, how many black soldiers rose to the rank of officer?

Answer 4

60

Question 5

What was the Double V Campaign?

Answer 5

A campaign that fought the segregation and Jim Crow laws in the US, while also seeking to defeat fascism and Nazism abroad.

Question 6

What year was the Brown v Topeka case?

Answer 6

1954.

Question 7

Describe the Brown v Topeka case.

Answer 7

-Thurgood Marshall from the NAACP represented Linda Brown, who wanted to go to an all-white school because it was closer to home.
-Marshall argued that educational achievement was restricted and self-esteem damaged by the separate but equal laws.
-The court ruled that segregation in education was unconstitutional.

Question 8

In 1957, how many black children were in Jim Crow schools?

Answer 8

2.4 million

Question 9

What year did the events of Little Rock High unfold?

Answer 9

1957.

Question 10

Describe the events of Little Rock High.

Answer 10

-After the Brown v Topeka ruling, 9 black students were permitted to to go Little Rock High in Arkansas for their education.
-State governor Faubus ordered national guardsmen to block the entry of the little rock 9.
-As a result, President Eisenhower sent 1,000 federal troops to Little Rock to allow the black students to go to school safely.
-Media coverage of the vicious white crowd embarrassed a nation that championed freedom and equality.
-Faubus closed all Arkansas schools to prevent integration for 2 years.

Question 11

What year was James Meredith permitted to go to the University of Mississippi?

Answer 11

1962

Question 12

Describe the events of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi.

Answer 12

-JFK sent 320 federal marshals to escort James Meredith into the university.
-Riots followed, and JFK sent a further 2,000 troops to restore order.

Question 13

What year was Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus?

Answer 13

1955

Question 14

What was the MIA?

Answer 14

The Montgomery Improvement Association, founded by MLK and helped to organise the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Question 15

When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 15

December 5th 1955

Question 16

What were some of the consequences of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 16

-MLK’s home was firebombed
-MLK and Rosa Parks were arrested for organising an illegal boycott
-1956, Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional.

Question 17

When and where were the Sit-in protests?

Answer 17

1960 in North Carolina

Question 18

Describe the sit-in protests.

Answer 18

-4 African American students were denied service, and stayed seated in protest.
-Many other students joined in.
-Students endured violence and assaults, but didn’t retaliate.
-Their approach put pressure on the local economy and was successful.

Question 19

Who were the Freedom Riders?

Answer 19

African Americans led by the group CORE that took public transport from Washington to Louisiana in 1961. They wanted to test whether racial integration was really happening.

Question 20

What happened to the Freedom Riders?

Answer 20

In Anniston, Alabama, a bus was attacked and burnt. In Montgomery, riders were beaten up, and in Jackson around 100 riders were jailed.

Question 21

What organisations did MLK lead?

Answer 21

The MIA and the SCLC

Question 22

Describe MLK.

Answer 22

-An energetic middle-class Christian.
-Won the Nobel Peace Prize and was voted TIME’s Man of the Year.

Question 23

Why did MLK target Birmingham, Alabama for his work?

Answer 23

Because it had a large Black American population and a notoriously racist chief of police (Eugene “Bull” Connor)

Question 24

What year was the Birmingham Campaign?

Answer 24

1963.

Question 25

Describe the 1963 Birmingham Campaign.

Answer 25

-Students and children joined the demonstrations to test the police reaction -There were a total of 2,000 demonstrators, and 1,300 children were arrested -Dogs and powerful water hoses were used. The violence from police towards peaceful demonstrators gained massive publicity. -JFK got involved and agreed that desegregation would take place within 90 days.

Question 26

What year was the March on Washington?

Answer 26

The summer of 1963

Question 27

Describe the March on Washington.

Answer 27

-250,000 demonstrators came to advocate for the rights of African Americans. -MLK gave his "I have a dream" speech, which was televised and put pressure on JFK to pass his civil rights bill.

Question 28

When was the Civil Rights Act passed and what was interesting about it?

Answer 28

1964, it was passed by LBJ after JFK's assassination, and approved as a sign of respect for the former president.

Question 29

Describe some of the policies included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Answer 29

-Banned segregation in hotels, motels, restaurants, lunch counters and theatres -Black students were given equal rights -It became the responsibility of federal government to bring cases to court to tackle discrimination. -Equal Employment Opportunity Commission set up.

Question 30

When was the Selma March?

Answer 30

March 1965

Question 31

Describe the Selma March.

Answer 31

-MLK and his followers were beaten and arrested, one was murdered -Marchers were attacked by Jim Clark's men, used tear gas and mounted police with clubs. Described as "BLOODY SUNDAY" -Lyndon B Johnson intervened and agreed to put a bill through for black voting rights.

Question 32

Why did MLK choose to march in Selma?

Answer 32

To highlight barriers to black voter registration.

Question 33

What year was the Voting Rights Act passed?

Answer 33

1965.

Question 34

Describe some of the policies of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Answer 34

-Ended literacy tests -Federal government monitored voter registration levels

Question 35

When was the Fair Housing Act passed?

Answer 35

1968

Question 36

Describe the features of the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

Answer 36

Discrimination in housing based on race, gender, etc. were outlawed

Question 37

Describe Malcolm X.

Answer 37

-Malcolm X was a Muslim that came from the African American ghettos, and had a tougher approach to bringing about change than MLK. -Believed that violence was justified in self defence -Originally believed in separatism but changed his mind later. -Believed MLK was ineffective, calling the Washington March a fad.

Question 38

Describe some of the actions taken by MLK.

Answer 38

Set up educational and social programmes for black youths in ghettos. Wanted to reconnect black Americans with their African heritage.

Question 39

Who was Stokely Carmichael?

Answer 39

-The chairman of the SNCC, inspired by Malcolm X. -Founded Black Power -Encouraged black people to take responsibility for their own lives and reject white help. -Created the slogan "Black is beautiful"

Question 40

Describe the Black Panthers.

Answer 40

-Formed by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. -A political group that held militant black power views. -Established a free breakfast programme, provided clothing centres, and gave guidance on drug rehabilitation -The internal divisions within the organisation made its success limited.