The Civil Rights Movement

SS5H8 The student will describe the importance of key people, events, and developments between 1950-1975. I can explain the key events and people of the Civil Rights movement; include Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and civil rights activities of Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Following WWII, legalized segregation still existed in the South. African Americans had to remain separate from whites in

public. They had to use separate entrances, sit in different waiting

rooms, use different bathrooms, and water fountains. On buses, blacks usually had to sit in the rear while whites sat

up front. African Americans called an end to segregation and injustice. Their protests helped give birth to the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil Rights Movement Begins

Brown v. Board of Education

Who? NAACP (represented by Thurgood Marshall) versus Kansas school system What?Challenged school segregation when Kansas refused to let an African American girl (Linda Brown) attend her home school because it was an all-white school Where? Kansas What was the outcome? The Supreme Court struck down school segregation in Brown v. Board of Ed. because black schools were not equal to white schools.

Montgomery Bus

Boycott Who? Rosa Parks What?Refused to give up her seat to a white passenger Where?Montgomery, Alabama What was the outcome? Parks was arrested causing anger among the African American community. They refused to ride public buses which caused the city to lose a lot of money. The boycott ended when the Supreme Court ruled thatMontgomery could no longer segregate its buses.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr. Leader of Civil Rights Movement Believed in nonviolent means of protesting

unjust laws Led several civil rights marches. 2 of the

most famous: Birmingham, AL- wanted to end all

segregation March on Washington, D.C.- supporting a

law President Kennedy asked Congress to pass. This is where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act making segregation in all public places illegal, and gave all races equal job opportunities.

March on Washington

1963 200,000 civil rights

supporters marched in the nation’s capital.

Dr. King gave his most famous speech standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial. “I have a dream…”

Other Leaders

Not all African Americans thought that non-violence was the best way to gain equality.

Nation of Islam and the Black Panthers were two of the most famous militant groups.

Malcolm X was the most famous militant leader. He was a member of the Nation of Islam.

He later left the Nation and began preaching cooperation instead of hatred. This made some blacks mad.

Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965 while speaking in NYC.

The Assassination of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Despite his belief in non-

violence, Dr. King had enemies.

Many government officials distrusted and feared him.

White racists hated him for challenging their beliefs.

King was assassinated on a hotel balcony April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN.

The Civil Rights Movement led to passage of civil rights laws during the 1960’s. The 1964 Civil Rights Act made segregation and discrimination illegal in many public places, such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters. The 25th Amendment to the Constitution ended the poll tax and made it easier for African Americans to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave the president power to outlaw literacy tests and send federal officials to make sure blacks got a fair chance to vote in elections.

Civil Rights Legislation

The 1960’s and 70’s were a time of social

unrest. People began to question traditional ways and call for change. Many wanted government to take a more active role in solving society’s problems.

Social Unrest

Social Movements of the 60’s and 70’sCivil Rights Movement The Civil Rights Movement sought equal rights

for African Americans and other minorities. Many of the other movements that arose in the 1960’s were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement.

Women’s Movement Women who joined this movement called for an end to gender discrimination. They also wanted to change many of the old laws about how women should act and what roles they should be limited to.

Students for a Democratic Society

SDS was a political and social movement that began on college campuses. Its members wanted government to act in radical ways to end poverty and social injustice. They also questioned many traditionally held values and called for an end to the war in Vietnam.

Youth Counter-culture Many older teens and young adults became part of a youth counter-culture. The counter-culture rejected many of their parents’ traditional values. Members of the counter-culture often experimented with illegal drugs and behaved in ways many Americans viewed as immoral.

President John F.

Kennedy In 1960, John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard

Nixon in one of the closest presidential races in history. It was the first time television played a major role in the election. In addition to both candidates’ election ads, Kennedy and Nixon also met in the first televised debate. Most of the citizens who heard the debate on the radio thought that Nixon won. But most of those who watched on television thought the younger, more confident looking Kennedy had. Many historians believe that television helped Kennedy win the election. Kennedy became a very popular president. Only forty-three years old when he took office, he was the youngest man ever elected president. His skills as a communicator, good looks, and sense of humor only added to his popularity. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, many citizens also viewed him as a good leader.

Kennedy and Space

ExplorationKennedy was a strong supporter of space exploration. During the 1960’s, the Soviet Union successfully launched satellites and put a man in space. Kennedy and others feared that falling behind in the space race was dangerous. They were convinced the Soviets would use their space technology to build more powerful nuclear weapons. Kennedy challenged the US space program to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60’s.

In 1969, US Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human being to walk on the moon. Today thanks to such early efforts, the United States often sends people in to outer space. Meanwhile, satellite (machines that orbit the Earth providing communication signals and pictures) have greatly impacted the way people live. Satellites enable people to watch live events on the other side of the world, hear accurate weather forecasts on their local new network, and get instant traveling directions as they drive their cars.

At first, President Kennedy did not do a lot to back the Civil Rights Movement. He believed in civil rights, but he also needed to support of southern politicians who opposed the movement. Eventually, as support for the movement grew, Kennedy introduced civil rights legislation to Congress. Some of his proposals became law under President Lyndon Johnson

Kennedy and Civil Rights

On November 22, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President Kennedy in Dallas Texas. The young president was loved by many citizens and the entire nation mourned his death. Vice President Lyndon Johnson became president in his place. Historians often debate how history might have been different if Kennedy had lived. Some believe the Vietnam War never would have happened.

November 22, 1963

Robert Kennedy was President Kennedy’s younger brother. He served as President Kennedy’s attorney general (the nation’s highest law enforcement officer) and played a key role in bringing a peaceful end to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He worked hard to battle organized crime and supported civil rights. He became an opponent of the Vietnam War and supported a number of social causes. In 1968, Robert Kennedy ran for president. Many thought he would win the Democratic Party’s nomination, especially after his in the California primary. That same night, however, as Kennedy made his victory speech, as assassin shot him at close range. Robert Kennedy’s assassination saddened many who had hoped he would end the war in Vietnam and deal with the country’s social problems. A few months later, the Democratic convention erupted in a riot when the Democrats nominated Vice President Hubert Humphrey to be their party’s presidential candidate. Humphrey lost the election to Richard Nixon. Nixon continued US involvement in Vietnam until 1973. He also appointed judges he hoped would reverse some of the civil rights legislation of the 1960’s.

Robert Kennedy