Changing the way you learn

Question	Answer
Explain why the Second World War was important in the fight for equality of Black Americans.	•It enabled President Truman to change the military and end segregation - as he could argue that without that blacks, WW2 would not have been won e.g Black Tank Battalion. •It saw a growth in confidence of Black Americans - campaigns at home like Double V were expected to carry on.
Give a brief description of the Brown vs Topeka case.	•Linda Brown could not go to school with her friends because she was black and they were white. •They took this to the District Court and they ruled in favour of the segregated schools. •Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools should be illegal.
What were the successes of the Brown Topeka case?	-in 1956, all schools in Topeka was organised by area rather than skin colour -Highest court in USA ruled that segregated schools should be illegal -the nine judges believed in integrated schools and they were all white. •boosted the confidence in civil rights groups such as the NAACP
What were the failures of the Brown Topeka case?	•Led to the increased membership of the KKK in 1955 •nothing much changed overall at the time because a deadline was not set to make the law official. •The President does not want the Supreme Court's judgement to be enforced - he didn't want integrated schools.
Describe the Rosa Parks Bus Boycott.	•She was a civil rights activist (secretary of the NAACP) •December 1955 she refused to give her seat to a white man in the buses in Montgomery and was arrested. •The bus boycott began due to this - black people refused to get on the buses. •January 1956, MLK was arrested for giving lifts to black people to go to work and his house was bombed. •The boycott continued. •For 12 months, 17,000 black Americans boycotted the bus service. •At the end, the Supreme Court made bus segregation illegal.
What were the successes of the Bus Boycott?	•the bus companies lost lots of money - it was effective and well organised by the NAACP •17,000 Black Americans participated in the boycott. •it ended the segregation of white and black people on buses. •MLK was brought in when the Montgomery Improvement Association was set up. •Showed that black Americans were prepared to go through hardship in an attempt to gain equality.
What were the failures of the Bus Boycott?	•boycotters were harassed, attacked. •black people were arrested - e.g MLK •MLK's house was bombed and set on fire.
Describe the events of the Little Rock Case.	•Arkansas, nine black students were picked to attend to a white school. •Faubus (state Governor) was against integrated schools - he hired 'National Guard' to prevent the black students from getting to school. •When President Eisenhower heard of this, he tried to persuade Faubus to allow the students to get to school. This did not happen •Eisenhower sent paratroopers to escort the Black Students to school.
What were the successes of the Little Rock Case?	•Little Rock reopened as an integrated school in 1960. •it showed the USA the scale of the problem •it got lots of media attention •showed that the President was making an effort to desegregate schools.
What were the failures of the Little Rock Case?	Four parents of the nine students lost their jobs, membership of the KKK grew. •The Governor was seen as a hero to some. •Even though Little Rock re-opened as an integrated school in 1960, still only 3% of its students were black. •only one of the nine students graduated.
What were the Freedom Rides in 1961?	•When JFK was elected, he promised to bring an end to inequality and segregation, however, he had not done anything at the time to do so. •So, CORE organised the freedom rides - to draw attention the the problem of segregation in the USA, especially in the South, by going from Washington to New Orleans in a bus filled with blacks and whites.
What happened to the riders?	•In Anniston, Alabama, the bus was firebombed. •In Jackson, Mississippi, the riders were attacked violently. •On 17th May, 10 riders continued the journey but were then arrested. •On 20th May 1961, KKK members attacked the bus. •In Montgomery, students like Jim Zwerg were attacked on the bus. They were severely injured, before being arrested.
Why were the Freedom Rides considered mainly as a 'success'?	•Robert Kennedy was sent (brother of JFK) to try and stop them, but were then impressed by the courage of the riders. •let to the desegregation of the the interstate buses in Sept. 1961 •it showed that the white supremacists were a big problem •JFK saw that changes needed to happen in parts of the South - specifically where racism was. •Students were prepared to be beaten up for justice - committed to change.
What were the main drawbacks to the Freedom Rides?	•several riders were severely injured and arrested for protesting against segregation.
What was the importance of the protests in Alabama April 1963?	•Showed the brutality of the police - racist •MLK knew that he would provoke a reaction - which helped to back the Civil Rights movement.
What was the importance June TV Address by JFK?	•Helped to persuade people to back the Civil Rights movement •Showed the President's urgency to end segregation.
What was The Washington March in August 1963?	•black people joined together, marching peacefully around Washington, as well as other parts of the USA, in commemoration of the 100 years of abolishment of slavery. •Civil Rights groups co-operated, joining arms. •they aimed to abolish segregation and marched for jobs and freedom.
What was the importance of the Washington March?	•Showed peaceful protest •it pressurised the President to make a change •JKF allowed this march to happen even though he could have stopped it - showed he was in favour, he even met with the Civil Rights group's leaders.
What did the Civil Rights Act in June 1964 state?	•no discrimination in public places - hotels, restaurants etc. •no discrimination in employment •no segregation schools, hospitals.
What things did the Act not solve?	•did not discrimination in housing •did not guarantee the right vote - Black Americans found it hard to vote. •did not end the activities of the KKK - blacks still faced for and violence.
Why did First Civil Rights Act become law in July 1964?	•After the Washington March, states like Alabama, still had violence against the blacks (Baptist Church was bombed) •After the March, if nothing had changed, blacks would be mad (as huge amount of people participated in the March) - might stop peaceful protests.
What happened in Mississippi 1964 to 1965?	•Civil Rights groups such as SNCC tried to get Black Americans registered to vote. •They tried to get 17,000 black Americans registered to vote, but only managed 1,600. •In part of Alabama, 50% of its population were black, however only 1% of those blacks were registered to vote.
What happened in Selma, Alabama 1965?	•Civil Rights group such as SNCC and SCLC organised a march from Selma to Montgomery. They were stopped by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge armed with teat gas, batons, and rifles. Bear in mind the marchers were un-armed. •The marchers were driven back, assaulted, harassed and abused.
Why was there a second march in Selma in 1965?	•The President pledged to help •A federal judge ruled that Governor Wallace's ban on the march was illegal. •Johnson put the Alabama state Troopers under federal command to protect the marchers.
Why were the marches in Selma 1965 important?	•Highlighted the horrific attitude of the South and the problems it had. •it led to passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 - stating that Black Americans were guaranteed the right to register to vote without the local tax, and a literacy test.
Why did the Civil Rights Movement turn to more violent methods in the 1960s?	•housing had not been desegregated yet •poorly paid jobs and employment inequality had not changed •some blacks did not believe in MLK's peaceful methods.
What was the Black Panther Party and what were its beliefs?	•It was originally SNCC but the leader was replaced by Stokely Carmichael - who believed in violent protest, changing the party into the Black Panther Party in 1968. •It was an all-black organisation. •They wanted black prisoners in America to be released •they wanted separate communities.
What were the successes of the Black Power Movement?	•it gave a voice to those who didn't agree with MLK •it showed strength/aggression - 'unlike' MLK
What were the weaknesses of the Black Power Movement?	•white and black Americans disliked the use of armed guards •many white and black Americans dislike the idea of separatism •it ruined the chances of main Civil Rights groups.
What happened in the Olympics in 1968?	•16 Oct. 1968, Tommie Smith won 200m, followed by Peter Norman and black American John Carlos. •They celebrated by giving the Black Power Salute, Tommie Smith holding on glove while John Carlos help up the other, in the representation of strength and unity.
Why was this a failure?	•They were booed •they were suspended from the Olympic team and banned from the Olympic Village •their families and them received death threats •it brought controversy to the Civil Rights Movement
What happened in LA 1965?	•There were riots in Watts, for 6 days due to the lack of equality in employment and housing. •The segregated housing policy meant that 95% of residential areas in Watts were off limits to black, Asian and Hispanic. •It claimed the lives of 34 people.
What did the Third Civil Rights Act state in 1968?	•you could not refuse to see or rent a house to someone based on their race or colour. •you cannot advertise a house to a certain race/colour •you could not intimidate someone living in a rented/bought house.
Why was this Act not as effective?	•It was easier to evade as it was hard to prove that the problem was colour of skin
What were the main reasons that caused this Act to be passed in 1968?	•assassination of MLK - he was involved in the campaign to improve housing in 1967 •Other people said that this Act was passed due to the Watts Riots - which showed that housing and unemployment needed sorting out.

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Civil Rights Movement Flashcards

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	Created by Czean Holgado over 7 years ago