Unit 8 - protests and signifcant individuals Flashcards
What historical background led to the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.?
Post-Civil War: 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments → abolished slavery, granted citizenship & voting rights.
Jim Crow laws (1870s–1960s): Enforced racial segregation in the South.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): “Separate but equal” legalized segregation.
WWII impact: Black veterans demanded equal rights upon return.
What triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott and why was it impactful?
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest (Dec 1, 1955) for refusing to give up her seat.
Organized by MLK & Montgomery Improvement Association.
Lasted 381 days, crippled bus revenues.
Result: Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional (1956).
What were sit-ins and Freedom Rides, and what did they achieve?
Sit-ins: Started in Greensboro, NC (1960) by 4 Black students at Woolworth’s lunch counter.
Spread across 55 cities in 13 states within months.
Freedom Rides (1961): Interracial bus trips to challenge segregation in interstate travel.
Riders faced brutal beatings but forced federal enforcement of desegregation laws.
What was the March on Washington and its significance?
Aug 28, 1963 – 250,000+ people marched to demand civil and economic rights.
MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at Lincoln Memorial.
Helped build momentum for Civil Rights Act (1964).
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 accomplish?
Banned segregation in public facilities & employment.
Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Enforced school desegregation.
Landmark law signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
How did the Voting Rights Act transform Black political power?
Outlawed literacy tests & voter suppression tactics.
Federal oversight of voter registration in racist areas.
Voter turnout among Black citizens in the South skyrocketed.
Example: In Mississippi, Black voter registration rose from 6% (1964) to 60% (1968).
How did women contribute to the Civil Rights Movement?
Rosa Parks (NAACP), Ella Baker (SNCC co-founder), Diane Nash (Freedom Rides leader).
Women organized grassroots protests and voter registration drives.
Often sidelined in leadership despite their contributions.
How did Malcolm X’s approach differ from MLK’s?
Criticized nonviolence as ineffective.
Promoted Black self-defense and pride.
Part of Nation of Islam; later moderated his views.
Killed in 1965 but inspired Black Power movements like the Black Panthers.
What is the long-term impact of the Civil Rights Movement?
Ended legal segregation & empowered new movements (e.g., feminism, LGBTQ+).
Influenced global protests for justice.
Sparked political careers (e.g., John Lewis).
Laid the foundation for Barack Obama’s election in 2008.
Who were the major leaders of the suffragette movement?
UK: Emmeline Pankhurst & the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU).
USA: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth.
Millicent Fawcett (NUWSS) led more peaceful protests in the UK.
How did suffragette tactics differ within the movement?
WSPU: Violent methods – arson, smashing windows, hunger strikes.
NUWSS: Petitions, speeches, debates in Parliament.
In the US: National Woman’s Party picketed White House under Alice Paul.
Both approaches gained media attention & pressured lawmakers.
How did World War I affect the women’s suffrage movement?
Women filled jobs vacated by men in factories, farms, and services.
Changed public perception of women’s capabilities.
Led to post-war voting rights: UK (1918 – women 30+), USA (1920 – all women).
What is the legacy of the suffragette movement?
Achieved legal equality in voting.
Sparked second-wave feminism (1960s–80s).
Inspired global suffrage movements in New Zealand, India, etc.
Challenged patriarchy in politics and beyond.
What influenced Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s thinking?
Born 1772 in Bengal.
Fluent in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, English.
Inspired by Enlightenment, Upanishads, and western rationalism.
Opposed religious dogma and social evils.
What role did Roy play in ending Sati?
Campaigned against Sati (widow burning) from 1811 onwards.
Published articles exposing its cruelty.
Persuaded Governor-General Bentinck to pass the Sati Regulation Act (1829) banning it.
Faced backlash from orthodox Hindu leaders.
What changes did Roy advocate in education?
Promoted Western-style education in science, math, philosophy.
Founded Hindu College (1817) & Anglo-Hindu School.
Supported female education, unlike most of his time.
Opposed religious superstitions in education.
What was the Brahmo Samaj and its significance?
Founded in 1828 by Roy.
Promoted monotheism, rejected idol worship.
Advocated religious tolerance, rationality, and ethics.
Influenced later reformers like Keshub Chandra Sen, Rabindranath Tagore.
Why is Raja Ram Mohan Roy considered a pioneer of modern India?
Merged Indian tradition with modern thought.
Advocated press freedom, women’s rights, abolition of caste injustice.
Called “Father of the Indian Renaissance.”
Died in the UK (1833), first Indian reformer to travel abroad.
What influenced Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideology and approach?
Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence and passive resistance.
Influenced by Christian teachings, especially the idea of love and justice.
Affected by the racial segregation and inequality in the American South.
How did Martin Luther King Jr. become a prominent leader during the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) in 1955.
Advocated for nonviolent protest after Rosa Parks’ arrest.
Led the 381-day boycott, resulting in the Supreme Court ruling bus segregation unconstitutional in 1956.
His leadership helped establish him as a national figure for civil rights.
What was Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence?
Modeled after Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance.
Believed in achieving social change through peaceful methods, even in the face of violence.
Stressed the importance of love, forgiveness, and understanding in overcoming hate.
Advocated for direct action to confront unjust laws and social structures.
What was the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech?
Delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.
Called for racial equality, integration, and an end to racial discrimination.
Became one of the most iconic speeches in American history.
Used vivid imagery of a future where children of all races could live in harmony.
What was the role of the SCLC in the Civil Rights Movement?
Co-founded by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957.
Aimed to organize Black churches and clergy for the civil rights cause.
Advocated for peaceful protests and voter registration drives.
Led campaigns such as the Birmingham Campaign in 1963 and Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965.
What was the significance of the Birmingham Campaign of 1963?
Aimed to desegregate public facilities in Birmingham, Alabama.
Faced violent opposition from police chief Bull Connor, who used dogs and fire hoses against peaceful protesters.
Resulted in wide media coverage, galvanizing national support for the Civil Rights Movement.
Led to desegregation of Birmingham and increased public awareness of racial injustice.
