Overview of the African American Civil Rights movement in the 1950s & 1960s. Modified from "Unit 9 Power Point Civil Rights Unit" by Crosswinds High School.

1. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTTHE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
PART I:PART I:
The Roots ofThe Roots of
thethe
AfricanAfrican
AmericanAmerican
Civil RightsCivil Rights
MovementMovement

2. 1313thth
, 14, 14thth
, 15, 15thth
AMENDMENTSAMENDMENTS
RECONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTSRECONSTRUCTION AMENDMENTS
1313THTH
AMENDMENTAMENDMENT
OUTLAWED SLAVERYOUTLAWED SLAVERY
1414THTH
AMENDMENTAMENDMENT
MADE AFRICAN AMERICANS CITIZENSMADE AFRICAN AMERICANS CITIZENS
GUARANTEED EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAWGUARANTEED EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW
1515THTH
AMENDMENTAMENDMENT
GUARANTEED AFRICAN AMERICANS THE RIGHT TO VOTEGUARANTEED AFRICAN AMERICANS THE RIGHT TO VOTE
13, 14, 15 – FREE, CITIZENS,VOTE13, 14, 15 – FREE, CITIZENS,VOTE

3. The 13The 13thth
, 14, 14thth
and 15and 15thth
Amendments wereAmendments were
suppose to protect the rights of Africansuppose to protect the rights of African
Americans under the U.S. Constitution…Americans under the U.S. Constitution…
But they did not because of a ruling byBut they did not because of a ruling by
the U.S. Supreme Court…the U.S. Supreme Court…

4. PLESSY v. FERGUSONPLESSY v. FERGUSON (1896)(1896)
Homer PlessyHomer Plessy
U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court
case that madecase that made
segregation legal insegregation legal in
the United Statesthe United States
EstablishedEstablished
the principlethe principle
of “separateof “separate
but equal”but equal”

5. PLESSY v. FERGUSONPLESSY v. FERGUSON (1896)(1896)
““Separate but equal”Separate but equal”
meant that minoritiesmeant that minorities
were not allowed in thewere not allowed in the
same places as whitessame places as whites
Southern states passedSouthern states passed
laws that legalizedlaws that legalized
segregation known assegregation known as
“Jim Crow” laws“Jim Crow” laws

6. For the next 70For the next 70
years, Jim Crowyears, Jim Crow
laws dominatedlaws dominated
society in thesociety in the
South for AfricanSouth for African
AmericansAmericans
Segregation became theSegregation became the
way of life for blacks inway of life for blacks in
the South until…the South until…

7. BROWNBROWN v.v. BOARDBOARD
of EDUCATIONof EDUCATION (1954)(1954)
““Separate educationalSeparate educational
facilities are inherentlyfacilities are inherently
unequal.”unequal.”
Ruling overturned theRuling overturned the
ruling in Plessy v.ruling in Plessy v.
Ferguson case andFerguson case and
outlawed segregationoutlawed segregation
in public schoolsin public schools

8. BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATIONBROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION
NAACP attorneyNAACP attorney
Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall
(center) argued the(center) argued the
case to endcase to end
segregationsegregation
Marshall later became the first AfricanMarshall later became the first African
American on the U.S. Supreme CourtAmerican on the U.S. Supreme Court

9. Rosa Parks refusesRosa Parks refuses
to move to the backto move to the back
of the busof the bus
The Movement BeginsThe Movement Begins
Parks is arrested,Parks is arrested,
leading to the…leading to the…

10. Montgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Bus Boycott
Outraged over Park’s arrest, AfricanOutraged over Park’s arrest, African
Americans organize a boycott ofAmericans organize a boycott of
Montgomery’s Public TransportationMontgomery’s Public Transportation
System in 1956System in 1956
African AmericansAfrican Americans
carpooled, tookcarpooled, took
taxis, or walked totaxis, or walked to
avoid taking the busavoid taking the bus
After a year, the cityAfter a year, the city
of Montgomery wasof Montgomery was
ordered to end itsordered to end its
segregation policysegregation policyAfrican Americans carpooling during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956African Americans carpooling during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956

11. Montgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Bus Boycott

12. A leader emergesA leader emerges
The person who led the Montgomery BusThe person who led the Montgomery Bus
Boycott was a Baptist minister from Atlanta.Boycott was a Baptist minister from Atlanta.
His name was Martin Luther King, Jr.His name was Martin Luther King, Jr.
The boycott of the busingThe boycott of the busing
system of Montgomery gainedsystem of Montgomery gained
King national prominenceKing national prominence MLK leaving a bus after the boycott endsMLK leaving a bus after the boycott ends

13. Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Born in Atlanta, GABorn in Atlanta, GA
• Southern Baptist MinisterSouthern Baptist Minister
• Led Montgomery BusLed Montgomery Bus
BoycottBoycott
• Leader of the Civil RightsLeader of the Civil Rights
MovementMovement
• Often compared to Mohandas GandhiOften compared to Mohandas Gandhi
• Advocated non-violent protestsAdvocated non-violent protests
• Urged followers to disobey unjustUrged followers to disobey unjust
lawslaws
• Was arrested 30 timesWas arrested 30 times

14. . . . there comes a. . . there comes a
time when peopletime when people
get tired of beingget tired of being
trampled over bytrampled over by
the iron feet ofthe iron feet of
oppressionoppression..
…… I want it to be known that we’re goingI want it to be known that we’re going
to work with grim and bold determinationto work with grim and bold determination
to gain justice on the buses in this city.to gain justice on the buses in this city.
And we are not wrong... -- MLKAnd we are not wrong... -- MLK
King following his first arrestKing following his first arrest
Martin Luther King:Martin Luther King:
A powerful speakerA powerful speaker

15. Types of ProtestsTypes of Protests
• MarchesMarches
• Sit-insSit-ins
• Freedom RidersFreedom Riders

16. Civil Rights MarchesCivil Rights Marches
Marches were the mostMarches were the most
common form ofcommon form of
protests used during theprotests used during the
Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement
Protestors would marchProtestors would march
peacefully in attempt topeacefully in attempt to
draw national attentiondraw national attention
for their causefor their cause

17. Sit-insSit-ins
Blacks were deniedBlacks were denied
service at lunch countersservice at lunch counters
They sat at the counter untilThey sat at the counter until
they were served or arrestedthey were served or arrested
Sit-ins raised the awarenessSit-ins raised the awareness
of the discrimination thatof the discrimination that
was occurringwas occurring
Students who participatedStudents who participated
in the sit-ins refused toin the sit-ins refused to
become violentbecome violent

18. Freedom RidersFreedom Riders
Blacks and whitesBlacks and whites
traveled into the South totraveled into the South to
draw attention to thedraw attention to the
South’s segregation ofSouth’s segregation of
bus terminalsbus terminals
When Freedom RidersWhen Freedom Riders
arrived at various citiesarrived at various cities
in the South, whitein the South, white
mobs attacked themmobs attacked them

20. Coming up next:Coming up next:
MovementMovement
gains nationalgains national
attention…attention…
……and alsoand also
becomes violentbecomes violent

21. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTTHE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
PART II:PART II:
Key events ofKey events of
the Africanthe African
AmericanAmerican
Civil RightsCivil Rights
MovementMovement

22. Leaders of Civil Rights MovementLeaders of Civil Rights Movement
Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Medgar EversMedgar Evers
Malcolm XMalcolm X
Stokley Carmichae
Stokley Carmichael
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks

23. ““WE SHALL OVERCOME”WE SHALL OVERCOME”
““We ShallWe Shall
Overcome”Overcome”
became the battlebecame the battle
cry of the Civilcry of the Civil
Rights MovementRights Movement
Protestors often sangProtestors often sang
the song during civilthe song during civil
rights marchesrights marches

24. Civil RightsCivil Rights
OrganizationsOrganizations
NAACP
NAACP SCLC
SCLC
SNCC
SNCC CORE
CORE
National Association
National Association
for the Advancement
for the Advancement
of Colored People
of Colored People
Southern Christian
Southern Christian
Leadership Council
Leadership Council
Student Non-violent
Student Non-violent
Coordinating Committee
Coordinating Committee
Congress of Racial
Congress of Racial
Equality
Equality

25. The movement gains nationalThe movement gains national
attentionattention
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Clockwise, fromClockwise, from
right, integration ofright, integration of
Little Rock Central;Little Rock Central;
bombing of 16bombing of 16thth
Street Baptist ChurchStreet Baptist Church
; lynching of Emmitt; lynching of Emmitt
Till; violence inTill; violence in
Birmingham; murderBirmingham; murder
of civil rights workersof civil rights workers
in Mississippiin Mississippi

26. Odyssey of Emmitt TillOdyssey of Emmitt Till
Emmitt TillEmmitt Till
Open casket at Emmitt TillOpen casket at Emmitt Till
Emmitt Till was a 14-year-old from ChicagoEmmitt Till was a 14-year-old from Chicago
whose murder in 1955 made national newswhose murder in 1955 made national news
Till was lynched and murdered after he saidTill was lynched and murdered after he said
““bye baby” to a white woman who was thebye baby” to a white woman who was the
cashier at a store while visiting hiscashier at a store while visiting his
cousin in Money, Mississippicousin in Money, Mississippi

27. Ending school segregationEnding school segregation
In 1957, a federal courtIn 1957, a federal court
ordered the integration ofordered the integration of
Little Rock Central HighLittle Rock Central High
Arkansas Governor OrvilleArkansas Governor Orville
Faubus sent in the NationalFaubus sent in the National
Guard to “keep the peace”Guard to “keep the peace”
The local NAACP pickedThe local NAACP picked
out nine African Americansout nine African Americans
to attend the schoolto attend the school
On their first attempt to enterOn their first attempt to enter
the school, the black studentsthe school, the black students
were denied entrancewere denied entrance

28. Ending school segregationEnding school segregation
The Little Rock NineThe Little Rock Nine
U.S. President DwightU.S. President Dwight
D. Eisenhower called inD. Eisenhower called in
federal troops tofederal troops to
enforce the Supremeenforce the Supreme
Court rulingCourt ruling
Only one of the “Little Rock Nine”Only one of the “Little Rock Nine”
graduated, but the incident raisedgraduated, but the incident raised
national awareness about thenational awareness about the
discrimination in the Southdiscrimination in the South

29. James Meredith enters Ole MissJames Meredith enters Ole Miss
Ending school segregationEnding school segregation
James Meredith is deniedJames Meredith is denied
admission into Ole Missadmission into Ole Miss
President Kennedy sendsPresident Kennedy sends
500 federal marshals to500 federal marshals to
escort Meredith and makeescort Meredith and make
sure he was allowed tosure he was allowed to
attended classesattended classes

30. Wallace fights segregationWallace fights segregation
Ending school segregationEnding school segregation
"The President wants us to"The President wants us to
surrender this state to Martinsurrender this state to Martin
Luther King and his group ofLuther King and his group of
pro-Communists who havepro-Communists who have
instituted theseinstituted these
Alabama governor GeorgeAlabama governor George
Wallace blocks theWallace blocks the
entrance to keep two blackentrance to keep two black
students from enrolling atstudents from enrolling at
the University of Alabamathe University of Alabama
PresidentPresident
KennedyKennedy
sends federalsends federal
marshals tomarshals to
enforce theenforce the
federal lawfederal law
George WallaceGeorge Wallace

31. Violence in BirminghamViolence in Birmingham
At marches in Alabama,At marches in Alabama,
Birmingham police chiefBirmingham police chief
Bull Connor used fire hosesBull Connor used fire hoses
and attack dogs to preventand attack dogs to prevent
people from marchingpeople from marching
The incidentThe incident
raised nationalraised national
awarenessawareness
about theabout the
discriminationdiscrimination
in the Southin the South

32. Violence in BirminghamViolence in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, wasBirmingham, Alabama, was
regarded as the most segregatedregarded as the most segregated
city in the Southcity in the South
Because of all the bombings inBecause of all the bombings in
the city, Birmingham wasthe city, Birmingham was
nicknamed “Bombingham”nicknamed “Bombingham”
The bombing of the 16The bombing of the 16thth
Street Baptist ChurchStreet Baptist Church
killed four innocent girlskilled four innocent girls

33. Mississippi Burning murdersMississippi Burning murders
Michael SchwernerMichael Schwerner James ChaneyJames Chaney Andrew GoodmanAndrew Goodman
In the summer of 1964, dubbedIn the summer of 1964, dubbed
-Freedom Summer - three civil rights-Freedom Summer - three civil rights
workers came up missing in, Mississippiworkers came up missing in, Mississippi
Weeks later, they were found deadWeeks later, they were found dead
after having been killed by membersafter having been killed by members
of the Ku Klux Klanof the Ku Klux Klan

34. March on WashingtonMarch on Washington
To support to President Kennedy’s Civil Rights bill,To support to President Kennedy’s Civil Rights bill,
Martin Luther King, Jr., organized a massive march onMartin Luther King, Jr., organized a massive march on
Washington, D.C., as a show of support for the billWashington, D.C., as a show of support for the bill
On August 28,On August 28,
1963, more1963, more
than 200,000than 200,000
demonstratorsdemonstrators
gatheredgathered
peacefully atpeacefully at
the nation’sthe nation’s
capitalcapital

35. MLK: “I have a dream”MLK: “I have a dream”
It was during the March onIt was during the March on
Washington in 1963 thatWashington in 1963 that
Martin Luther King, Jr., gaveMartin Luther King, Jr., gave
his “I Have a Dream” speechhis “I Have a Dream” speech
Dr. King presented hisDr. King presented his
dream of freedom anddream of freedom and
equality for all Americansequality for all Americans
““I have a dream that my four little children willI have a dream that my four little children will
one day live in a nation where they will not beone day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin but by thejudged by the color of their skin but by the
content of their character.”content of their character.”

36. Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964
Despite strong oppositionDespite strong opposition
from Southern senators,from Southern senators,
President Lyndon B.President Lyndon B.
Johnson got Congress toJohnson got Congress to
pass the billpass the bill
Law gave Congress power toLaw gave Congress power to
outlaw segregation in mostoutlaw segregation in most
public places; gave minoritiespublic places; gave minorities
equal access to facilities suchequal access to facilities such
as restaurants and theatersas restaurants and theaters

37. 2424thth
AmendmentAmendment
The 24The 24thth
Amendment, ratified inAmendment, ratified in
1964, helped to guarantee the1964, helped to guarantee the
right to vote for Africanright to vote for African
AmericansAmericansIt abolishedIt abolished
poll taxes,poll taxes,
which werewhich were
fees thatfees that
had to behad to be
paid inpaid in
order toorder to
vote invote in
nationalnational
SNCC and SCLCSNCC and SCLC
increased theirincreased their
voter registrationvoter registration
drives in the Southdrives in the South

38. Selma March/Bloody SundaySelma March/Bloody Sunday

39. Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965
"By the way, what's the big word?"
The violence in SelmaThe violence in Selma
infuriated President Johnsoninfuriated President Johnson
and led to the federaland led to the federal
government to step in againgovernment to step in again
Johnson to propose a newJohnson to propose a new
voting rights law and, in earlyvoting rights law and, in early
August, the Voting Rights ActAugust, the Voting Rights Act
of 1965 was signed into lawof 1965 was signed into law
It authorized the Attorney General to send federalIt authorized the Attorney General to send federal
examiners to register qualified voters by bypassing localexaminers to register qualified voters by bypassing local
officials who tried to keep blacks from votingofficials who tried to keep blacks from voting

40. Movement takes a different directionMovement takes a different direction

41. Malcolm X
Malcolm X was the Civil Rights MovementMalcolm X was the Civil Rights Movement
leader who advocated the use of violence toleader who advocated the use of violence to
gain African American rightsgain African American rights
He was assassinated in 1965 afterHe was assassinated in 1965 after
abandoning the beliefs of Black Panthersabandoning the beliefs of Black Panthers

42. The Black PanthersThe Black Panthers
The Black PanthersThe Black Panthers
were the groupwere the group
during the Civilduring the Civil
Rights MovementRights Movement
that urged Africanthat urged African
Americans to fightAmericans to fight
for their rightsfor their rights
The Black Panthers were led by formerThe Black Panthers were led by former
SNCC leader Stokley CarmichaelSNCC leader Stokley Carmichael

43. Martin Luther King assassinatedMartin Luther King assassinated
Tragedy struck on AprilTragedy struck on April
4, 1968, when Martin4, 1968, when Martin
Luther King wasLuther King was
assassinatedassassinated
King was in Memphis,King was in Memphis,
Tenn., for a march forTenn., for a march for
Sanitation WorkersSanitation Workers
The assassinationThe assassination
of Martin Lutherof Martin Luther
King marked theKing marked the
end of one phaseend of one phase
of the civil rightsof the civil rights
movementmovement

44. Coming up next:Coming up next:
Other groupsOther groups
fight for theirfight for their
rightsrights
Latinos, NativeLatinos, Native
Americans, WomenAmericans, Women