Civil Rights Movement Pt. 1

Question 1

Issac Woodard:

Answer 1

Isaac Woodard, a decorated African American WWII veteran, was brutally beaten and blinded by police in South Carolina shortly after his discharge in 1946. He was arrested and attacked after challenging a bus driver’s disrespectful behavior. This event, and the police chief’s subsequent acquittal, sparked national outrage and contributed to the rise of the civil rights movement.

Question 2

Brown v Board:

Answer 2

In the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. This landmark decision, a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement, paved the way for desegregation and had a profound impact on education and race relations in America.

Question 3

Little Rock 9:

Answer 3

The Little Rock Nine were nine African American students who bravely integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, defying racial segregation. On the first day of school, they were met by an angry mob and the Arkansas National Guard, who were ordered by Governor Orval Faubus to prevent their entry. The students, with the support of federal troops, eventually entered the school, marking a significant step in the Civil Rights Movement.

Question 4

Emmett Till Summary:

Answer 4

Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, in her grocery store. His death sparked the Civil Rights Movement and brought national attention to the racism and violence faced by Black Americans in the South.

Question 5

Civil Rights Act of 1964:

Answer 5

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, it prohibited discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and in federally assisted programs. The act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Question 6

Methods of resisting segregation:

Answer 6

The Civil Rights Movement employed various methods to resist segregation, including nonviolent direct action like sit-ins and freedom rides, boycotts, marches, and protests. These tactics, along with litigation and lobbying, were used to raise public awareness, garner support, and push for legal changes.

Question 7

Voting Rights Act of 1965:

Answer 7

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of US federal legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It effectively abolished literacy tests and poll taxes, which were often used to disenfranchise African Americans, and granted the federal government the power to oversee voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination. The act also authorized federal intervention to ensure voter registration and participation.

Question 8

Selma:

Answer 8

The Selma civil rights movement, particularly the Selma to Montgomery marches, was a pivotal event in the fight for voting rights for African Americans in the United States. These marches, organized by civil rights groups like SNCC and SCLC, aimed to challenge the discriminatory practices that prevented Black Alabamians from voting. The marches, including “Bloody Sunday” when marchers were brutally attacked by police, garnered national attention and ultimately contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.