T4: Key events of the Civil Rights Movement 1955-56

Question 1

when was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

Answer 1

1955-56

Question 2

what sparked the montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 2

rosa parks protest 1955

Question 3

details of the montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 3

Non-violent protest
BA refused to use buses for over a year- economically harmful to bus companies and local businesses lost $1mill

Question 4

how much did the montgomery bus boycott cost local businesses?

Answer 4

1 million dollars

Question 5

what was the outcome of the montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 5

Led to a Montgomery federal court ruling in 1956 that racially segregated seating on buses violated the 14A

Question 6

what was the significance of the montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 6

Set a precedent that eventually led to desegregation in the south
Also brought MLK to foreground, eloquent speaker and appealed to many WA + BA

Question 7

when did a montgomery federal court rule that segregated seating on buses violated the 14A?

Answer 7

1956

Question 8

what brought MLK to the foreground?

Answer 8

montgomery bus boycott

Question 9

what organisation did MLK create?

Answer 9

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Question 10

when did MLK found SCLC?

Answer 10

1957

Question 11

what was the focus/ aim of the SCLC?

Answer 11

fighting for desegregation through non-violent action e.g. marches and protests

Question 12

what type of action did the SCLC take?

Answer 12

marches and protests

Question 13

what was the impact of SCLC?

Answer 13

Successful in highlighting CR issues, although wasnt that successful at start due to poor organisation and funding

Question 14

what was the significance of SCLC?

Answer 14

increased organisation of the CR movement

Question 15

what does SNCC stand for?

Answer 15

student nonviolent coordinating committee

Question 16

when was SNCC founded

Answer 16

1960

Question 17

what was SNCC known for ?

Answer 17

sit ins

Question 18

what were SNCC’s sit ins?

Answer 18

black students entering whites only spaces and sitting at lunch counters, refusing to move

Question 19

how many students took part in sit ins?

Answer 19

Sit-ins across the south in 1960- 70,000 students impatient with slow progress

Question 20

where did sit ins take place?

Answer 20

across the south at whites only lunch counters e.g. Woolworth’s

Question 21

what was the impact of SNCC and their sit-ins?

Answer 21

• unprecedented media attention
• helped to erode JC e.g. Woolworth’s desegregated all lunch counters by end of 1961, 150 cities soon desegregated public spaces

Question 22

by when had Woolworths desegregated all lunch counters?

Answer 22

end of 1961

Question 23

how many cities desegregated public places?

Answer 23

150

Question 24

why were there tensions between the CR groups?

Answer 24

SNCC accused MLK of keeping SCLC proceeds for himself

Question 25

what did MLK publicly admit, what was the impact?

Answer 25

tensions between SNCC, SCLC, NAACP - not a good look as needed a string united front to make CR progress

Question 26

when were the Freedom Rides?

Answer 26

1961

Question 27

what group carries out the freedom rides?

Answer 27

CORE

Question 28

what proportion of CORE were white?

Answer 28

1/3

Question 29

what were the Freedom Rides?

Answer 29

small integrated groups would ride Greyhounds into the South to test the limits of integration

Question 30

example of a Freedom Ride?

Answer 30

1961 - 4 white and 4 black students took interstate buses from Virginia to Mississippi to test law on segregation

Question 31

what was the response of white southerners to Freedom Rides?

Answer 31

firebombed buses and attacked black passengers

Question 32

what was the result of the Freedom Rides?

Answer 32

The Federal Interstate Commerce Committee and the Justice Department issued orders to enforce desegregation

Question 33

what 2 institutions issued orders to enforce desegregation as a result of the Freedom Rides?

Answer 33

The Federal Interstate Commerce Committee and the Justice Department

Question 34

when was MLK's Birmingham campaign?

Answer 34

1963

Question 35

why did MLK choose Birmingham?

Answer 35

wanted to expose racism - though Birmingham was one of most racist cities

Question 36

who was the chief of police in Birmingham?

Answer 36

Eugene Bull Connor

Question 37

details of Birmingham campaign 1963?

Answer 37

Peaceful protest against segregation but chief of police Eugene Bull Connor used police dogs and firehoses to brutally attack and arrest protestors Widely broadcast. MLK brought in children after media lost interest

Question 38

impact of Birmingham campaign?

Answer 38

- JFK spoke out against the violence and introduced a Civil Rights Bill to Congress - Raised great awareness and solidifies MLK as a national civil rights leader

Question 39

when was the March on Washington?

Answer 39

1968

Question 40

who organised the March on Washington?

Answer 40

Organised by A Philip Randolph as had threatened to do so in 1941

Question 41

what was the aim of the March on Washington?

Answer 41

To put pressure on fed gov and to show unity between CR organisations

Question 42

how many people attended the March on Washington?

Answer 42

250,000 25% white

Question 43

what did MLK say at March on Washington?

Answer 43

MLK iconic speech ‘I have a dream’ - called for integration

Question 44

what was the impact of the 1968 March on Washington?

Answer 44

Media attention raised awareness, TV audiences impressed