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Questions and Answers
What were the Jim Crow laws primarily designed to enforce?
What were the Jim Crow laws primarily designed to enforce?
Which Supreme Court case established the principle of 'separate but equal'?
Which Supreme Court case established the principle of 'separate but equal'?
What was a common method used to disenfranchise African Americans in the South?
What was a common method used to disenfranchise African Americans in the South?
What was the significance of Executive Order 9981?
What was the significance of Executive Order 9981?
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What was the main argument of the NAACP in the Board of Education case?
What was the main argument of the NAACP in the Board of Education case?
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What significant ruling did the Supreme Court make in November 1956?
What significant ruling did the Supreme Court make in November 1956?
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What was the primary purpose of civil disobedience as demonstrated by Rosa Parks?
What was the primary purpose of civil disobedience as demonstrated by Rosa Parks?
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What was a notable impact of the open casket funeral of Emmett Till?
What was a notable impact of the open casket funeral of Emmett Till?
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What was the primary method used by the protesters during sit-ins?
What was the primary method used by the protesters during sit-ins?
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What was the main aim of the Freedom Riders?
What was the main aim of the Freedom Riders?
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Which group grew in membership as resistance to integration intensified?
Which group grew in membership as resistance to integration intensified?
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What was the result of the Little Rock Nine incident?
What was the result of the Little Rock Nine incident?
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What was the main purpose of the March on Washington in 1963?
What was the main purpose of the March on Washington in 1963?
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Who was the Alabama governor known for his staunch support of segregation?
Who was the Alabama governor known for his staunch support of segregation?
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What was one of the main goals of Johnson's Great Society Plan?
What was one of the main goals of Johnson's Great Society Plan?
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Which group was associated with nonviolent beliefs during the Civil Rights Movement?
Which group was associated with nonviolent beliefs during the Civil Rights Movement?
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What was a significant outcome of Freedom Summer in 1964?
What was a significant outcome of Freedom Summer in 1964?
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What milestone did Thurgood Marshall achieve in 1968?
What milestone did Thurgood Marshall achieve in 1968?
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Study Notes
Reconstruction
- Laws limiting African American freedoms (voting, gun ownership, jury duty, property, work) were put in place
- The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and equal rights, mostly on paper and not enforced
- Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) legalized segregation with the "separate but equal" doctrine
Racism and Discrimination in the South
- Jim Crow laws enforced segregation in various aspects of life
- Poll taxes and literacy tests were used to disenfranchise African American voters
- Lynching and the KKK were used to instill fear and prevent African American rights
Impact of Segregation
- African Americans faced low-paying jobs, higher rates of poverty & illiteracy, lower homeownership and life expectancy, restricted voting rights
Early Efforts to End Segregation
- The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) became a powerful civil rights organization
- Thurgood Marshall led the legal fight against segregation
- CORE (Congress on Racial Equality) was formed to address racial equality
Integrating Sports
- Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947
- The NBA began integrating in 1950 with the first Black players
- Willie O'Ree became the first Black NHL player in 1962
Desegregation of the Armed Forces
- President Harry Truman's Executive Order 9981 (July 1948) ended segregation in the military
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- The NAACP challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine
- The Supreme Court ruled that segregated public education was inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment
- This overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and ordered schools to integrate
The Murder of Emmett Till (August 1955)
- Emmett Till, a 14-year-old visiting Mississippi from Chicago, was murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman
- The open casket funeral photo of Till's body became a symbol of racial violence and ignited the Civil Rights Movement
Montgomery Bus Boycotts (December 1955)
- Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama
- The boycott lasted for 13 months, with boycotters relying on walking, carpooling, and discounted taxis
- The boycott gained national attention and put substantial pressure on the bus company
- The Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional in 1956
Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC
- Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement
- He was a minister influenced by Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance
- The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded to continue the fight for civil rights
Resistance to Integration
- Civil rights laws were often ignored or obstructed by local officials
- "White Citizens Councils" actively resisted integration
- The KKK experienced a resurgence, engaging in violence and intimidation
Little Rock Nine (1957)
- Nine African American students were prevented from attending Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, by segregationist Governor Orval Faubus
- Federal troops were deployed to escort the students to school throughout the year
- The incident demonstrated the President's commitment to enforcing the law, but resistance to integration would persist
Sit-Ins
- Sit-ins were protests where people refused to leave segregated establishments until their demands were met
- The Greensboro sit-in in 1960 sparked a wave of similar protests across the country
- The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) emerged to support and organize these protests
Freedom Riders (1961)
- Freedom Riders boarded buses in the South to test the desegregation ruling of the Supreme Court
- They faced violent attacks, including a bus firebombing, from white supremacists
- The incident led to the desegregation of interstate transportation
All Eyes on Birmingham
- Birmingham, known for its strong white supremacy, was targeted for protests
- Governor George Wallace and Commissioner of Public Safety Eugene "Bull" Connor enforced segregation and used fierce tactics against protesters
- The violence against peaceful protesters, including the use of fire hoses and attack dogs, gained national media attention
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
- Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter from jail addressing criticisms of his tactics and defending nonviolent resistance
March on Washington (August 28, 1963)
- Over 200,000 people gathered to protest discrimination and urge Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act
- It marked a major event in the Civil Rights Movement
I Have a Dream
- Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing (September 15, 1963)
- Four young Black girls were killed and many others injured in a bombing of a Black church in Birmingham
- The bombing further heightened public awareness of the brutality faced by African Americans
Johnson's Great Society Plan (1964-1965)
- This comprehensive plan aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice in America
- It included programs for education, healthcare, urban development, and transportation
Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Passed after the March on Washington and bombing in Birmingham
- Prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
- A major victory for the Civil Rights Movement
Voting Rights Act of 1965
- Outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes
- Increased the number of registered African American voters in the South
Freedom Summer (1964)
- SNCC led voter registration efforts in the South, resulting in a significant increase in Black voters
Bloody Sunday (March 7, 1965)
- A peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, was met with violent attacks by state troopers
- This incident galvanized public opinion against voter suppression in the South
Nonviolence vs. Not Nonviolence
- Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent resistance
- Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panthers believed that violence was sometimes necessary due to the slow pace of change
MLK Assassination (April 4, 1968)
- Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
- His death sparked riots and protests across the nation
Effects of the Civil Rights Movement
- African Americans were elected to various political offices, including the US Senate and Congress
- More Black Americans became doctors and lawyers, contributing to economic progress
- The movement fostered a sense of pride and unity among African Americans
- It brought about significant changes in laws and attitudes towards racial equality, though ongoing struggles remain
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Description
This quiz explores the Reconstruction era and the subsequent impact of segregation laws on African Americans in the South. It covers significant events and organizations such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Jim Crow laws, and the efforts of the NAACP in combating discrimination. Test your knowledge on this crucial period of American history.
