Civil RightsCivil Rights

1954-19801954-1980

Civil RightsCivil Rights

1954-19681954-1968

Origins of Civil RightsOrigins of Civil Rights Emancipation Proclamation: During the Emancipation Proclamation: During the

Civil War, Lincoln granted slaves in the Civil War, Lincoln granted slaves in the South their freedom. It was impossible South their freedom. It was impossible to enforce, but it set the groundwork for to enforce, but it set the groundwork for eventual freedom.eventual freedom.

1313thth Amendment: Prohibited slavery in Amendment: Prohibited slavery in the U.S.the U.S.

1414thth Amendment: Granted citizenship to Amendment: Granted citizenship to blacks and equal protection under the blacks and equal protection under the law.law.

Restraint of Civil RightsRestraint of Civil Rights

1896 –Plessy v. Ferguson established 1896 –Plessy v. Ferguson established “separate but equal” for “separate but equal” for accommodations.accommodations.

Jim Crow Laws: These laws passed by Jim Crow Laws: These laws passed by individual states kept the black individual states kept the black population submissive and under the population submissive and under the control of whites.control of whites.

Early Anti-Discrimination LawsEarly Anti-Discrimination Laws

1941: Roosevelt established a 1941: Roosevelt established a temporary temporary Fair Employment Practice Fair Employment Practice CommitteeCommittee to prevent discrimination to prevent discrimination by defense industries against by defense industries against workers because of “race, creed, workers because of “race, creed, color, or national origin”color, or national origin”

1945: New York State passed the 1945: New York State passed the first law against discrimination in first law against discrimination in employment with the employment with the Ives-Quinn Act.Ives-Quinn Act.

Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education

The Supreme Court unanimously decided The Supreme Court unanimously decided that segregation of black children in that segregation of black children in public schools violated the 14public schools violated the 14thth amendment.amendment.

NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall argued NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall argued the casethe case The KKK and the White Citizens Council defended The KKK and the White Citizens Council defended

segregation as the “Southern way of life”.segregation as the “Southern way of life”. Several southern state legislations approved Several southern state legislations approved

“interposition” resolutions stating that education “interposition” resolutions stating that education was a state issue, not a federal one. was a state issue, not a federal one.

Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education

Chief Justice Earl Warren voiced the Chief Justice Earl Warren voiced the opinion that overturned Plessy v. opinion that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.Ferguson. Separating black children from others solely Separating black children from others solely

because of their race “generates a feeling of because of their race “generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community” … inferiority as to their status in the community” … “separate educational facilities are “separate educational facilities are inherently inherently unequalunequal””

The Supreme Court ordered that the The Supreme Court ordered that the desegregation of public schools should desegregation of public schools should begin “with all deliberate speed.”begin “with all deliberate speed.”

Montgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Bus Boycott

December 11, 1955: Rosa Parks refuses December 11, 1955: Rosa Parks refuses to move to the back of a public bus. She to move to the back of a public bus. She was arrested for violating the law.was arrested for violating the law.

In response, MLK leads a boycott against In response, MLK leads a boycott against the public transportation system for over the public transportation system for over a year. Blacks organize car pools.a year. Blacks organize car pools.

In November of ’56, the Supreme Court In November of ’56, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated seating in local ruled that segregated seating in local transportation was unconstitutional.transportation was unconstitutional.

Little Rock 9Little Rock 9

President Eisenhower encouraged President Eisenhower encouraged states to work out how they would states to work out how they would implement Brown. implement Brown.

At several hundreds of schools in the At several hundreds of schools in the South, integration was accomplished South, integration was accomplished peacefully.peacefully.

There were, however, several There were, however, several instances of violence and protest instances of violence and protest against integration. The most notable against integration. The most notable in Little Rock, Arkansas.in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Little Rock 9Little Rock 9

In September, 1957, the city’s board of In September, 1957, the city’s board of education was prepared to admit nine black education was prepared to admit nine black students into the all-white high schoolstudents into the all-white high school

Governor Orval Faubus used the National Governor Orval Faubus used the National Guard to prohibit the students from entering Guard to prohibit the students from entering the school, because he thought there would be the school, because he thought there would be violence (and he was a racist…)violence (and he was a racist…)

Eisenhower stated that was illegal and forced Eisenhower stated that was illegal and forced Faubus to remove the national guard.Faubus to remove the national guard.

Little Rock 9Little Rock 9

When a crowd taunting and When a crowd taunting and intimidating the students stopped intimidating the students stopped the students from entering the high the students from entering the high school, Eisenhower sent federal school, Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the students.troops to escort the students.

The soldiers protected the students The soldiers protected the students all year (only 8 of them remained as all year (only 8 of them remained as one withdrew from the school)one withdrew from the school)

The Little Rock Nine

Daisy Bates of NAACP

Civil Rights Act of 1957Civil Rights Act of 1957

The first such act since ReconstructionThe first such act since Reconstruction Many white, southern legislators argued Many white, southern legislators argued

against itagainst it It created a six-member panel (Civil Rights It created a six-member panel (Civil Rights

Commission) to investigate voting rights Commission) to investigate voting rights issues and violations of equal protection issues and violations of equal protection under the law.under the law.

The Att. General was authorized to obtain The Att. General was authorized to obtain court orders to secure the right to vote court orders to secure the right to vote anywhere in the nation.anywhere in the nation.

Civil Rights Act of 1960Civil Rights Act of 1960

It empowered federal judges to It empowered federal judges to appoint referees to assist blacks in appoint referees to assist blacks in voting and registeringvoting and registering

It made it a federal crime to It made it a federal crime to transport explosives across state transport explosives across state lines or to cross a state line in order lines or to cross a state line in order to escape prosecution for having to escape prosecution for having bombed a building. bombed a building. (In response to (In response to increased number of churches being increased number of churches being bombed)bombed)

Freedom RidesFreedom Rides

In 1961, CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) In 1961, CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) began a campaign against “For Whites Only” began a campaign against “For Whites Only” facilities in bus terminals in the South.facilities in bus terminals in the South.

Started in Washington DC and went to New Started in Washington DC and went to New OrleansOrleans

Attacked by hostile mobs at several stops Attacked by hostile mobs at several stops along the way – he worst in Alabama.along the way – he worst in Alabama.

In response, the commerce commission In response, the commerce commission prohibited segregation on buses and in prohibited segregation on buses and in terminals.terminals.

Desegregation of UniversitiesDesegregation of Universities

1961: Air force veteran, James 1961: Air force veteran, James Meredith received a court order to Meredith received a court order to allow entrance into the University of allow entrance into the University of MississippiMississippi

As he tried to enter he was As he tried to enter he was repeatedly barred from entrance – repeatedly barred from entrance – once by the governor himself.once by the governor himself.

Kennedy ordered federal troops to Kennedy ordered federal troops to escort Meredith the whole year.escort Meredith the whole year.

March on WashingtonMarch on Washington

In August, 1963 some 200,000 blacks In August, 1963 some 200,000 blacks and whites participated in an orderly and whites participated in an orderly and peaceful march. and peaceful march.

MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” Speech.Speech.

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited election official from applying Prohibited election official from applying different standards to black and white voters.different standards to black and white voters.

Forbade discrimination in public places: Forbade discrimination in public places: hotels, restaurants, retail stores…hotels, restaurants, retail stores…

Prohibited discrimination in government Prohibited discrimination in government owned or operated facilities – pools, parks, owned or operated facilities – pools, parks, etc…etc…

Prohibited discriminatory practices by Prohibited discriminatory practices by employers, employment agencies and labor employers, employment agencies and labor unionsunions

2424thth Amendment Amendment

Prohibited the use of a poll tax as a Prohibited the use of a poll tax as a requirement for voting in a federal requirement for voting in a federal electionelection

It affected 5 southern states that still It affected 5 southern states that still had a poll taxhad a poll tax

Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965

Southern officials tried to hinder Southern officials tried to hinder voting by blacks in the Southvoting by blacks in the South Ex: In Selma, AL out of a possible 15,000 Ex: In Selma, AL out of a possible 15,000

black voters only 335 were registeredblack voters only 335 were registered This led to the march from Selma to This led to the march from Selma to

Montgomery to focus the nation’s Montgomery to focus the nation’s attention on Southern racial barriers attention on Southern racial barriers to voting.to voting.

This forced Congress to pass the Act.This forced Congress to pass the Act.

Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965

In any state or county where less In any state or county where less than half of the possible voters were than half of the possible voters were registered, all literacy and other registered, all literacy and other qualification tests were suspended.qualification tests were suspended.

The Attorney General was The Attorney General was empowered to send federal empowered to send federal examiners to any county practicing examiners to any county practicing voting discriminationvoting discrimination