Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1965

Journal 11-15 What’s the Cold War? What’s the difference between communism and capitalism? What are two differences between the Korean War and the Vietnam War? What communist took over Cuba in 1959? What did Joseph McCarthy do? Who was convicted of spying? What did JFK say in his inaugural address?

Civil Rights Advocates Frederick Douglas: 1817–1895 Sojourner Truth: 1797–1883 Harriett Tubman: 1820–1913 Medgar Evers: 1925–1963 ◦ Langston Hughes: 1902–1967 Booker T. Washington: 1856–1915 What do you know about these people? Which ones have we covered? W.E.B. DuBois: 1868–1963 Thurgood Marshall: 1908–1993 A. Phillip Randolph: 1889–1979 Martin Luther King, Jr.: 1929–1968 Marcus Garvey: 1887–1940 Rosa Parks: 1913–2005

Brown v. Board of Education 1. Brown v. Board: Supreme Court decision that determined segregated schools are unequal and therefore unconstitutional; ordered public schools in the U.S. to be desegregated. What case did Brown v. Board overturn (hint: separate but equal)?

Key People in Brown v. Board 2. Thurgood Marshall: African- American lawyer who argued for desegregation during Brown v. Board; first African-American Supreme Court Justice; head of NAACP Legal Defense Team. 3. Oliver Hill: Richmond, Virginia civil rights supporter; head of NAACP Legal Defense Team in Virginia.

Virginia’s Response to Brown v. Board 4. Massive resistance: Closing some schools entirely Establishment of private academies for white students only How is being “private” relevant? White flight from urban school systems white flight: white families move to suburbs to escape a rise in minorities

The March on Washington In 1963, approximately 250,000 people participated in a march on Washington, D.C., a nonviolent gathering to support civil rights legislation. 5. Participants in the March on Washington were inspired by the “I Have a Dream” speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 6. The March on Washington helped influence public opinion to support civil rights legislation. demonstrated the power of nonviolent, mass protest.

NAACP 7. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People): Challenged segregation in the courts. who’s this? 

Civil Rights Act of 1964 8. The Civil Rights Act of 1964: passed during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin desegregated public accommodations (public facilities like bathrooms and theaters)

Voting Rights Act of 1965 9. The Voting Rights Act of 1965: also passed during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency outlawed literacy tests (reading and writing tests used to prevent minorities from voting) resulted in federal registrars (someone who registers you for things) being sent to the South to register voters resulted in an increase in African-American voters.

“I Have a Dream” Activity 1. Select your favorite phrase or line from the speech to be your title. Then draw an illustration that shows what that line or phrase means to you. 2. If you were asked to give a public speech in Washington, D.C., about what is needed today for a better America, what would you say? What is your “dream”? How would you convince others to follow your dream? 3. Imagine you are a newspaper reporter who has been tasked to cover the March on Washington. After listening to King’s speech, write an article describing the speech and the crowd’s reaction. How do others feel? What does it look like? Is it chaos?