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Civil rights and Vietnam Flashcards

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1
Q

How does the US government work?

A

Each individual state can pass its own laws(even though they can be overruled by the Federal Government if they are judged to be unconstitutional)

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2
Q

How were Black Americans discriminated against in the 1950s(in the North)

A

Blacks had the worst jobs
Lived in poorest parts of towns and cities called ghettos

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3
Q

How were black Americans discriminated against in the 1950s(in the South)?

A

Jim Crow laws enforced segregation - saying segregation was acceptable if the facilities provided were equal
Separate restaurants, cinemas, schools
Buses were segregated
Facilities in black schools were much worse as they had less money spent on them

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4
Q

Tactics of NAACP

A

Focused on fighting for civil rights in the courts
Provided evidence facilities were not equal, and focused on school segregation

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5
Q

Tactics of CORE

A

Many white members, used non-violent, direct action protests such as sit-ins, boycotts
Trained not to react even in the face of extreme intimidation/attack

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6
Q

Factors contributing to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s

A

Education
New Ideas
Second World War
Television
Cold War
Migration
Growth of Southern Cities

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7
Q

How education contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s

A

Better education for blacks, especially in North, led to more black professionals. Some moved to cities in the South and changed white views of black Americans.

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8
Q

How new ideas contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s.

A

Research disproved some races were genetically inferior.
Research showed segregated education made black children feel inferior.

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9
Q

How the Second World War contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s

A

Some whites saw blacks as more able, having worked with them.
Around 150,000 of the US troops who came to Britain were black.

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10
Q

How television contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s

A

This brought events into the living room, making people more aware of racist injustice.

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11
Q

How the Cold War contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s?

A

This made the US government sensitive to international criticism about how black Americans were treated.

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12
Q

How did the growth of southern cities contribute to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s?

A

New industries grew in southern towns and cities, giving black people different job opportunities.

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13
Q

Why did migration contribute to the growth of the civil rights movement in the 1950s?

A

Poor blacks moved north, liberal whites moved south. This changed southern communities, especially in cities and towns.

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14
Q

When was the NAACP set up?

A

1909

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15
Q

When was CORE set up?

A

1942

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16
Q

Aims of NAACP

A

Campaigned for integration
To overthrow Plessy v Ferguson law which meant equal but separate accommodations for white and black people

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17
Q

Aimes of CORE

A

Targeted segregation

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18
Q

When were Emmett Till,George Lee and Lamar Smith murdered?

A

1955

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19
Q

How many black Americans were registered to vote!

A

By 1956, only 20% of them had registered to do so as they were intimidated and made to sit unreasonable tests to register

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20
Q

Opposition to civil rights

A

The murders of Lee,Smith and Till
The KKK
Southern churches
Dixiecrats
Southern state governors

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21
Q

How did the KKK show opposition to civil rights?

A

Terrorised black American families by intimidation and extreme violence, including murder, often by lynching(illegal execution, usually carried out by a mob)

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22
Q

How did the murder of Emmett Till show opposition to civil rights?

A

Till’s mother had an open viewing of the body in Chicago, meaning extensive media coverage, fuelling widespread shock and outrage.
The defendants were acquitted(found not guilty)- They later sold their story to a magazine, admitting the murder

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23
Q

Who were the Dixiecrats?

A

A splinter group from the Democratic Party made up of Southern politicians, some Southern members of Congress

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24
Q

When did the Dixiecrats rejoin the Democrats?

A

In 1954, they rejoined the Democrats, after previously breaking away due to disagreements anout civil rights, because they believed they could have more influence from within the Democratic Party

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25
How was their federal opposition to the civil rights?
The Dixiecrats had strong views about keeping segregation and maintained position on keeping segregation and protecting states' rights to retain laws that guaranteed white supremacy. Presidents had to take the Dixiecrats' views on board when creating new laws - they were fearful the Dixiecrats would disrupt government
26
How was their state opposition to civil rights?
The views of Southern governors and local state mayors ensured there was strong opposition to the civil rights movement and desegregation.
27
How did southern state governors show opposition to civil rights?
Open ways(e.g, shutting down all state schools so they couldn't be integrated) Some school admission tests were deliberately biased against black students, to prevent them from joining white schools. Some states refused to end literacy tests and continued to disrupt opportunities for black voters to cast their vote at elections.
28
When was the White Citizens' Council set up?
From 1954 onwards to stop desegregation.
29
How many members did the White Citizens' Councils have?
Around 60,000 members in the mid-1950s
30
How did the White Citizens' Councils show opposition to civil rights?
Began as organisation opposed to school desegregation in their local area. Opposed desegregation in libraries or swimming pools Used economic means to stop calls for desegregation
31
How did the WCC use economic means to stop calls for desegregation?
In some towns, WCC members sacked black employees who signed petitions or were involved in civil rights activities
32
Causes of the Brown v Topeka case
In 1954, Oliver Brown took the city of Topeka in Kansas to court to force his daughter to attend a school a long way away, instead of letting her attend a nearby whites-only school
33
When did the Supreme Court rule segregated schools were illegal?
May 1954
34
When did the Supreme Court call for desegregation in schools
May 1955
35
Significance of Brown v Topeka Case
Key turning point in Civil Rights, althoug there was still much opposition in the south to integating schools and many states refused to do so
36
How many school districts were desegregated in the aftermath of the Brown v Topeka case?
In 1957, 723 school districts had desegregated education
37
What did the Southern Manifesto declare?
That the Brown decision was illegal, because the states didn't accept segregation was unconstitutional
38
When was the Southern Manifesto made public?
12 March 1958
39
Short-term evidence the Brown v Topeka case was unsuccessful
Threats and violence to black children that attemped to integrate into schools Some southern Governors pledged to keep segregation White Citizens' Council set up in Misssissippi KKK membership grew
40
Long-term effects of the Brown vs Topeka ruling
Black students faced hostility in integrated schools White flight - Many whites moved away from areas with a large black population, creating a new kind of segregation Some black teachers lost their jobs Membership of NAACP fell
41
Evidence of school desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas up to 1957
75 blacks applied, 25 were selected, only 9 still willing to go after threats of violence
42
Governor Orval Faubus's actions?
In 1958, Faubus closed every school in Little Rock, in an attempt to stop racial integration taking place.
43
When was it agreed that Little Rock High School would be desegregated(by school board)?
On 3 September 1957. The NAACP arranged for the new black students to arrive there together on 4 September.
44
How many troops did Orval Faubus send?
250 state troops to surround the school when the Little Rock Nine were due to start
45
When did President Eisenhower send in federal troops(Little Rock High)?
On 24 Septemher 1957, to ensure black students could attend school without being attacked
46
How many federal troops did Eisenhower send in?
1000 federal troops
47
Why did Eisenhower get involved?
Worldwide media coverage of the events at Little Rock High School - as the USA's image was being damaged abroad
48
Dilemmas facing Eisenhower(Little Rock High)
Eisenhower wanted to improve black civil rights while avoiding potential violent unrest about racial integration in the Deep South, where opposition was strongest
49
First civil rights Act since 1875
Set up in 1957- set up a commission to prosecute anybody who tried to deny American citizens their rights
50
When was Orval Faubus forced to reopen schools
In September 1959- but these schools had to be integrated
51
Examples of resistance to school integration after 1957
In the South, many schools shut down rather than desegregate. The first black student graduated from Little Rock High School in 1958, but fellow white students refused to sit with him at the ceremony. Even 10 years later, black students attending newly integrated Southern schools were subjected to violence, intimidation and exclusion by teachers and peers.
52
Political opposition to integrated schools
Senator Harry F Byrd demanded massive resistance Prince Edward county in Virginia closed public schools School boards very slow to integrate Some admitted only a few black children at a time Some school boards set unfair admission tests against blacks
53
When did Senator Harry F.Byrd demand resistance to desegregation?
On 25 February 1956
54
Causes of the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks was arrested in December 1955 for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. Blacks were at the back of buses, whites were at the front. There were no black bus drivers. White drivers regularly bullied black passengers
55
Bus companies' response to boycott
8 December 1955- Bus company refused to change policies 13 November 1956- bus company appeal rejected 17 December 1956- 2nd appeal rejected
56
When did car pools begin?
12 December 1955 - had over 300 cars
57
What are car pools?
An arrangement between people to make a regular journey in a single vehicle, typically with each person taking turns to drive the others.
58
When was MLK's house bombed?
30 January 1956
59
When was the Plessy v Ferguson case?
In 1896
60
How many MIA members were arrested?
89, on 22 February 1956
61
When was there a trial against MIA members?
19 March 1956
62
Result of trial against MIA members
There was evidence of the abuses inflicted by white drivers. People began fundraising for the MIA- MLK found guilty, paid $500 fine
63
Supreme Court involvement in Montgomery Bus Boycott
5 June 1956- Supreme Court ordered buses should be desegregated
64
When was the Montgomery Bus Boycott over?
20 December 1956
65
When was the MIA set up?
5 December 1955
66
Qualities that helped Martin Luther King bring the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Education Non-violent approach Passionate speeches Widespread appeal Christian virtues
67
How did education help MLK's leadership?
Being well-educated allowed him to think through a campaign strategy carefully, establish clear goals, and decide on the best means to achieve them
68
Why did a non-violent approach make MLK such a influential leader?
Gained sympathy and support
69
How did passionate speeches make MLK an influential leader
Shows that he cares, motivates, people would support him
70
How did widespread appeal make MLK such an influential leader
Gained him support from blacks and whites
71
Importance of leadership in Montgomery Bus Boycott
Jo Ann Robinson - president of WPC, teacher, organised boycott E.D. Nixon - NAACP member, helped set up the boycott Ralph David Abernathy - clergyman, NAACP member, took over the MIA after MLK left Montgomery
72
Why was the Montgomery Bus Boycott unsuccessful?
White backlash MIA's leader was attacked Black people riding buses were shot at Bus services were suspended for several weeks Even though buses were desegregated, no further desegregation happened in Montgomery Even bus stops remained segregated
73
How was the 1957 Civil Rights Act limited?
It was limited by the fact anybody prosecuted under this was tried in a state jury which was unlikely to find a white southerner guilty
74
When did the Greensboro sit-in began?
1 February 1960- when 4 students sat in at Woolworths Lunch Counter in North Carolina, waited to be served at a segregated lunch counter in the Woolworth department store. Students refused to go to the whites only area and remained in the store until closing time.
75
Progress of Greensboro sit- in
On 4 February 1960, there were more than 300 students, both black and white, working in shifts to continue the protest. After a week the sit-ins spread to other towns in North Callrina. Due to the loss of earnings and the continued disruption of business, in July the Greensboro woolworth store desegregated.
76
When did the Greensboro woolworth store desegregate?
July 1960
77
When was the SNCC set up?
On 15 April 1960
78
SNCC=
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
79
Role of SNCC in Greensboro sit-in
SNCC trained students to cope with the hostility and harassment they faced during sit-ins and other demonstrations like being sworn at, pushed and having drinks thrown over them.
80
Significance of Greensboro sit-in
Young people were inspired Some white southerners joined in Huge numbers of protestors got involved Very public - open to media Different types of people involved Favourable news coverage
81
How many protestors were involved in the Greensboro sit-in?
About 50,000 by autumn 1960
82
Freedom rides
CORE campaigners ride buses to highlight desegregation had not happened
83
Reaction to the Freedom rides
Many southern state governors and much of the southern press spoke against them. The KKK and WCC vowed to stop them.
84
When did the Freedom Riders begin?
4 May 1961
85
When did the KKK firebomb buses?
On 15 May 1961
86
How many KKK members firebombed the bus?
Over 100 KKK members
87
When were buses attacked?
Just outside Montgomery, Alabama, 20 May 1961, with little police protection
88
When were the Freedom Riders arrested?
On 24 May 1961 e.g. in Jackson, Mississippi
89
Achievements of the Freedom Riders(by 1 November 1961)
Freedom rides continued, Federal government said they would send federal troops if states didn't desegregate bus facilities. The Southern states then began to desegregate bus facilities.
90
What efforts had been made to desegregate universities 1956-62?
Some Southern universities desegregated Georgia 1961 1962 East Carolina University
91
Desegregation(East Carolina)
In 1962, East Carolina University took its first black student with little violence
92
Desegregation(Georgia)
In Georgia, in 1961, the Governor and university officials called on students to accept desegregation
93
When was James Meredith rejected from Mississippi?
1961
94
When did attacks occur against Meredith(when federal officials escorted Meredith on campus)
On 30 September 1962
95
How many segregationists attacked Meredith(on 30 September 1962)?
3000
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