Civil Rights Movement Quiz

A system of laws and practices that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans in the South, mainly from the late 19th century to mid-20th century.

The Supreme Court case that ruled that separate but equal facilities for Black and white people were constitutional. It upheld segregation laws.

A landmark court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared that separate educational facilities for Black and white children were inherently unequal. This paved the way for desegregation in schools.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major step towards ending segregation and discrimination, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark Act that ensured the right to vote regardless of race. It outlawed discriminatory practices that prevented Black Americans from voting.

A series of actions organized by Black Americans to challenge segregation and discrimination. It included boycotts, sit-ins, marches, and other forms of nonviolent protests.

Continued economic inequalities, racial disparities, and systemic issues like redlining and mass incarceration that still persist despite significant progress made by the Civil Rights Movement.

The rights and responsibilities of a citizen, which can include the right to vote, freedom of speech, and legal protection. It's connected to the concept of belonging to a nation or country.

The Supreme Court decision of 1857 that ruled Black people, even those who were free, were not considered citizens of the United States and had no legal rights.

A campaign launched by Black Americans during World War II, calling for victory both against Fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home. It symbolized the growing demand for equality.

The systematic movement of millions of Black Americans from the South to the North and West between 1916 and 1970, driven by economic opportunities, racial prejudice, and a search for a better life.

A cultural explosion of African American art, music, literature, and thought centered in Harlem, New York City, during the 1920s. It celebrated Black identity and talent, challenging racial stereotypes.

The legal strategy proposed by Booker T. Washington, who advocated for Black economic empowerment by focusing on vocational training and self-reliance, rather than challenging racial segregation directly.

W.E.B. Du Bois's idea that a select group of highly educated Black leaders, known as the 'Talented Tenth,' should lead the fight for racial equality through social activism, political engagement, and education.

The era following the Civil War when Southern states were under federal control. It aimed to reconstruct the South, establish civil rights for Black Americans, and integrate them into society.

A strategy employed in the late 1800s to restrict Black voting rights in the South.

A form of racial terror where mobs, often with the support of local authorities, murdered African Americans. It was particularly prevalent in the South from 1880s to 1900s.

The systematic denial of services like loans and mortgages based on race, often practiced against areas with Black residents.

A romanticized view of the pre-Civil War South, often minimizing or justifying slavery and the Confederacy.

A white supremacist organization that used terror and violence to oppress Black Americans and maintain white supremacy.

This movement, founded in 1905, aimed to challenge racial inequality and was a precursor to the NAACP.

The mass migration of African Americans from the South to the North (especially to cities like Chicago) in the early 20th century, driven by economic opportunities and escaping Jim Crow.

The worst instance of racial violence in American history that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, where a white mob destroyed an all-Black neighborhood.

This policy, implemented in the 1930s, reinforced racial segregation in housing, denying federal funds to Black neighborhoods and contributing to economic disparities.

A group of educated African Americans who believed in using their skills and knowledge to combat racial inequality.

A key figure in the civil rights movement who advocated for racial equality and founded the NAACP.

The speech by Booker T. Washington that emphasized economic self-reliance (farming, skilled jobs) and gradual progress for Black Americans.

A fee that had to be paid to cast a ballot, used as a tool to disenfranchise Black voters in the South.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful speech delivered in 1963, calling for an end to racial segregation and discrimination, inspired by the unfulfilled promise of emancipation for African Americans.

A strategy of nonviolent resistance, inspired by the works of Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi, advocated by Martin Luther King Jr. to combat racial injustice and achieve social change.

A coalition of Black ministers and civil rights activists established in 1956 to challenge segregation and promote desegregation, with Martin Luther King Jr. as a prominent figure.

The US Supreme Court's decision in 1954 that declared separate educational facilities for Black and white children as inherently unequal, paving the way for school desegregation.

The response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision by many Southern states, characterized by laws and strategies aimed at resisting and delaying desegregation.

A document signed by 101 Southern members of Congress in 1956, opposing the Brown v. Board of Education decision and advocating for racial segregation.

The incident in 1957 where the governor of Arkansas used the National Guard to block the court-ordered integration of Little Rock Central High School, resulting in the deployment of federal troops.

In 1961, groups of Black and white activists who rode buses across the South to challenge segregation laws, facing violent attacks by mobs and inaction by authorities.

A demonstration in Washington D.C. in 1963 by over 200,000 civil rights activists calling for equal rights and an end to racial discrimination, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

A tragic event in 1963 where the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young Black girls, highlighting the violence and fear of racial prejudice in the South.

A major movement of Black Americans from the rural South to Northern and Western cities for job opportunities in industries, especially during World War II and the 1950s.

Executive Order 880, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 to combat discrimination in defense industries during World War II.

A group that organized sit-ins in Northern cities to challenge segregation and promote integration.

A slogan used during World War II that captured the desire for both victory over Axis powers abroad and victory over segregation at home.

A period of intense resistance to desegregation in the South during the 1950s, characterized by legal maneuvering and public opposition.

The 1944 legislation that provided benefits to veterans of World War II, including unemployment pay, education scholarships, low-cost loans, job training, and pensions.

The practice of separating people on the basis of race, even if there are no legal requirements for it.

The 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, a year-long protest against segregation in public transportation, sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white man.

The principle that equal funding and facilities do not necessarily guarantee equality, as segregation inherently creates unequal experiences based on race.

A group that used legal challenges to dismantle racial segregation and promote equality, particularly focusing on the desegregation of schools.

A book published in 1947 that exposed the widespread discrimination against Black Americans and urged the federal government to take action to end segregation.

Lyndon B. Johnson, a southern Democrat, became president after Kennedy's assassination, and shared the New Deal view that the government should help the less fortunate.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, enacted by President Johnson, banned racial discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and institutions like hospitals and schools, marking a significant step towards equality.

A voter registration drive in Mississippi during the summer of 1964, aimed at registering Black voters in the South. It was met with violence and resistance from white segregationists.

A political strategy that sought to win votes by appealing to white resentment towards the Civil Rights Movement. It was popularized by candidates like Barry Goldwater in 1964.

In 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama, culminating in a march to Montgomery. This event brought national attention to the issue of voting rights and galvanized the movement.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed by Congress in response to events like the Selma march, gave federal officials the power to register voters and outlaw discriminatory voting practices. It had a profound impact on Black political participation.

The 24th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1964, outlawed the poll tax, a discriminatory measure used to prevent Black Americans from voting.

By the late 1960s, urban uprisings became commonplace, with Black communities rising against injustice, police brutality, and poverty. These events highlighted systemic inequalities and frustration with the pace of change.

After the unrest of the late 1960s, President Johnson created a commission to study the causes of urban violence. The commission concluded that racial segregation and poverty were key factors in the unrest.

As the Black Power movement gained strength, its focus shifted from legal equality to economic empowerment, calling for greater control of Black communities and resources.

The Chicago Freedom Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966, aimed at securing economic and housing equality for Black Chicagoans, fighting discrimination by employers and unions.

A prominent Black leader and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. He advocated for Black self-reliance, control of their communities, and self-defense against white violence. He is often referred to as the 'Father of Black Power.'

A concept that gained prominence in the mid-1960s, emphasizing Black pride, self-determination, and control over Black communities. It called for greater political and economic power for Black Americans.

The Black Panther Party, founded in Oakland, California, in 1966, advocated for armed self-defense against police brutality and sought to improve the lives of Black communities. They became a symbol of radical resistance and faced fierce government opposition.

The second wave of feminism, which emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, challenged gender discrimination, particularly in the workplace and social roles. It fought for equal pay, reproductive rights, and social justice for women.

A landmark movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s that fought against the stigma and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals. It challenged societal norms regarding sexual orientation and advocated for equality and acceptance.

W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for immediate civil rights and higher education for the "Talented Tenth" to lead the fight for equality. He believed these educated leaders could uplift the entire Black community and challenge racial discrimination.

Booker T. Washington believed that Black Americans should focus on economic self-sufficiency and vocational education, temporarily accepting segregation while building their own economic strength. He argued that economic power would eventually lead to social and political equality.

The Great Migration contributed to the rise of Black neighborhoods in northern cities, bringing cultural changes, and also sparked racial tensions due to competition for resources and jobs.

The Civil Rights Movement relied on diverse strategies, including nonviolent resistance inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of civil disobedience, legal challenges by organizations like the NAACP, and direct action tactics such as sit-ins and marches.

The Civil Rights Movement successfully dismantled legal segregation, secured landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965), and increased political and social opportunities for Black Americans.

The Civil Rights Movement faced limitations, including persistent economic inequality, ongoing racism, and challenges like housing discrimination and police brutality. While legal rights improved, full social and economic equality remains a struggle.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955), the March on Washington (1963), and the Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965) were pivotal events that brought national attention to the struggle for civil rights. These events mobilized people, raised awareness, and sparked critical change.

The Civil Rights Movement faced backlash from those who opposed integration. "Massive resistance" campaigns, violence, and efforts to prevent integration were common responses.

The Civil Rights Movement's success spurred other groups facing discrimination to fight for their rights. The Women's Rights Movement, the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement, and the Chicano Movement all drew inspiration from strategies of nonviolent protest and visibility.

The Civil Rights Movement shifted in the 1970s as frustration grew over the slow pace of change and persistent inequality. Groups like the Black Panther Party advocated for community programs and self-defense, emphasizing Black empowerment and control over their communities.

Current civil rights issues, such as racial profiling, mass incarceration, and economic inequality, are rooted in systemic issues that the Civil Rights Movement originally tackled. Understanding the history of the Black struggle for civil rights helps us address these ongoing challenges.