Moving towards integration 1948 Truman ends segregation in the military 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier playing with the Dodgers. 1 st African American to play major league baseball – integration in sports
Brown vs. Board of Education Brown wanted to attend the closer all-white school 2. NAACP and Thurgood Marshall (lawyer) sued 3. Supreme Court ruled that the facilities were not equal and overturned Plessey vs. Ferguson Schools must now integrate!
Little Rock 9 (Arkansas) Governor of Arkansas refused to integrate Little Rock HS. He called out the national guard to keep the students out Eisenhower responded by calling in the Army to allow/escort them all in These students were selected by the NAACP and had to train and go to therapy before they began school here.
Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks is arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus. NAACP chose Martin Luther King Jr. to lead this bus boycott Results: After 381 days, buses had to be integrated.
Civil Rights Groups form SCLC SNCC Southern Christian Leadership Conference Lead by Martin Luther King Jr. Used activism and nonviolence "We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline,” Not sink to the level of the racists Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee Student members Did sit-ins Later they became more radical
Blacks and whites rode busses together throughout the South. Turned violent in Alabama. Effect: When news of this reached the public, people were outraged and support for civil rights increased.
March on Birmingham Birmingham is the “most segregated city in America” MLK wants a peaceful protest in Birmingham Bull Connor, chief of police responded with violence. MLK is arrested and while in jail he wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Pushed for civil disobedience and not to wait for the courts.
March on Washington March to the Lincoln Memorial 1. MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” Speech 2. JFK drafts a Civil Rights Bill 3. JFK is assassinated in November LBJ passed the Civil Rights Act 1. Outlawed discrimination
Banned literacy tests Sent officials to protect voters
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Goal: end poverty and racial injustice Great Society Federal assistance programs: Food Stamps, Upward Bound, Head Start Civil Rights Bill & Voting Rights Medicare/Medicaid Continued environmental movement
Other Social Movements Migrant Workers Women UFW – United Farm Workers established by Cesar Chavez Improve conditions, working hours, and wages Used non-violent means; hunger strike Most famous – boycott of California table grapes NOW – National Organization for Women Reject traditional gender roles Push for equality between the sexes
Other Social Movements Environmentalist Movement Conservative Movement Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring Mankind’s use of certain chemicals (pesticides) is poisoning the environment Earth Day - April 22 EPA – Environmental Protection Agency Enforce laws aimed at maintaining a safe and clean environment Berry Goldwater – Presidential nominee (lost) Represented the conservative movement Pushed for States Rights Less government regulation Less government power Less social programs Opposed high taxes
Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren oversaw many key Supreme Court decisions. Examples: 1) Brown vs. Board of Education 2) Miranda v. Arizona 1) “Miranda Rights” - Law enforcement must inform those they arrest of their rights.
Other key Supreme Court decisions Roe v. Wade Regents of UC v. Bakke Ruled that state laws restricting a woman’s right to an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy to be unconstitutional. Implied right to privacy Courts struck down the use of racial quotas in the workplace and admissions for schools. Violates the 14 th amendment (equal protection clause) Did NOT strike down affirmative action, just the use of quotas.