Demands for Civil Demands for Civil RightsRights

Mr. DodsonMr. Dodson

Demands for Civil RightsDemands for Civil Rights

What events and cultural trends led to a rise in What events and cultural trends led to a rise in African American influence in the twentieth African American influence in the twentieth century?century?

How did Americans respond to the Supreme How did Americans respond to the Supreme Court’s decision in Court’s decision in BrownBrown v. v. Board of Board of EducationEducation??

How did the Montgomery bus boycott affect the How did the Montgomery bus boycott affect the civil rights movement?civil rights movement?

How did other minorities begin to demand civil How did other minorities begin to demand civil rights in the 1950s?rights in the 1950s?

The Rise of African American The Rise of African American InfluenceInfluence

Migration and the New DealMigration and the New Deal In the years between the Civil War and the In the years between the Civil War and the

1940s, many African Americans migrated from 1940s, many African Americans migrated from the South to northern cities.the South to northern cities.

During the Depression, Roosevelt and others During the Depression, Roosevelt and others courted black votes to support New Deal courted black votes to support New Deal initiatives.initiatives.

Under Roosevelt, the number of African Under Roosevelt, the number of African Americans working for the federal government Americans working for the federal government rose significantly.rose significantly.

The Rise of African American The Rise of African American InfluenceInfluence

World War II and the NAACPWorld War II and the NAACP A shortage of labor during World War II led many more A shortage of labor during World War II led many more

African Americans to the North.African Americans to the North. As Americans fought a war against discrimination in As Americans fought a war against discrimination in

Europe, many began to think about the discrimination Europe, many began to think about the discrimination taking place at home.taking place at home.

After the war, the African American civil rights movement After the war, the African American civil rights movement accelerated.accelerated.

The The National Association for the Advancement of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)Colored People (NAACP) worked hard in the courts to worked hard in the courts to challenge segregation laws.challenge segregation laws.

Brown Brown v.v. Board Board of Educationof Education In 1951, Oliver Brown wanted his 8-year-old daughter In 1951, Oliver Brown wanted his 8-year-old daughter

to attend a Topeka, Kansas school, which only whites to attend a Topeka, Kansas school, which only whites were permitted to attend. were permitted to attend.

Brown sued the Topeka Board of Education, and his Brown sued the Topeka Board of Education, and his case reached the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall case reached the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall of the NAACP argued Brown’s case.of the NAACP argued Brown’s case.

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued its ruling On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in the in the BrownBrown v. v. Board of EducationBoard of Education of Topeka, Kansas of Topeka, Kansas case. In this ruling, the court supported Brown’s case case. In this ruling, the court supported Brown’s case for desegregation, stating that, “Separate educational for desegregation, stating that, “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”facilities are inherently unequal.”

Essentially the Supreme court ended segregation and Essentially the Supreme court ended segregation and the “separate but equal” rule.the “separate but equal” rule.

Reaction to Reaction to Brown Brown v.v. Board of Board of EducationEducation

Many Americans, both white and African Many Americans, both white and African American, rejoiced at the American, rejoiced at the BrownBrown ruling. ruling.

Others accepted the decision although they did Others accepted the decision although they did not agree with it, hoping that desegregation not agree with it, hoping that desegregation could take place peacefully.could take place peacefully.

Many southern whites, especially in the Deep Many southern whites, especially in the Deep South, strongly opposed the ruling.South, strongly opposed the ruling.

Congressional representatives of states in the Congressional representatives of states in the Deep South joined together to protest the Deep South joined together to protest the decision, claiming that it violated states’ rights. decision, claiming that it violated states’ rights.

The Montgomery Bus BoycottThe Montgomery Bus Boycott In 1955, an African American named Rosa Parks was In 1955, an African American named Rosa Parks was

seized by the police in Montgomery, Alabama when she seized by the police in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her seat to a white man.refused to give up her seat to a white man.

In response, civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther In response, civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., organized a boycott of the Montgomery bus King, Jr., organized a boycott of the Montgomery bus system. system.

New African American civil rights leaders like King, became New African American civil rights leaders like King, became involved because of the involved because of the Montgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Bus Boycott

Over the next year, 50,000 African Americans boycotted the Over the next year, 50,000 African Americans boycotted the city bus system, choosing to walk, ride bicycles, or carpool city bus system, choosing to walk, ride bicycles, or carpool instead.instead.

Despite losing money, the bus company refused to change. Despite losing money, the bus company refused to change. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Resistance in Little RockResistance in Little Rock

In the fall of 1957, Arkansas Governor Orval In the fall of 1957, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus felt that enforcing Faubus felt that enforcing integrationintegration,, - or the - or the bringing together of different races, - would create bringing together of different races, - would create chaos.chaos.

Faubus put Arkansas National Guard troops at Faubus put Arkansas National Guard troops at Central High School in Little Rock, telling them to Central High School in Little Rock, telling them to turn away the nine African American students who turn away the nine African American students who were supposed to attend that school.were supposed to attend that school.

Mobs of angry protesters joined the National Guard Mobs of angry protesters joined the National Guard in intimidating the African American students.in intimidating the African American students.

Resistance in Little RockResistance in Little Rock

Government ResponseGovernment Response Faubus’s actions defied the Faubus’s actions defied the BrownBrown decision. decision.

President Eisenhower viewed these actions as a President Eisenhower viewed these actions as a challenge to the Constitution and to his authority challenge to the Constitution and to his authority as President.as President.

Eisenhower placed the National Guard under Eisenhower placed the National Guard under federal command and sent soldiers to Arkansas federal command and sent soldiers to Arkansas to protect the nine students.to protect the nine students.

Other Voices of ProtestOther Voices of Protest Like African Americans, other minority groups Like African Americans, other minority groups

demanded equal rights after World War II.demanded equal rights after World War II. Mexican Americans found that peaceful protest Mexican Americans found that peaceful protest

could slowly bring about some of their goals. could slowly bring about some of their goals. Groups such as the Community Service Groups such as the Community Service Organization and the Organization and the Asociación Nacional Asociación Nacional México-AmericanaMéxico-Americana worked toward these goals. worked toward these goals.

Native Americans faced problems of poverty, Native Americans faced problems of poverty, discrimination, and little real political discrimination, and little real political representation. The 1953 government policy of representation. The 1953 government policy of termination,termination, or elimination of reservations, met or elimination of reservations, met with resistance and was eventually discarded.with resistance and was eventually discarded.