The Civil Rights Movement SS8H11 a.

Benjamin Mays Born in South Carolina in 1895 to parents who were former slaves. Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College Master’s and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Chicago Ordained Baptist Minister Taught at South Carolina State College and Morehouse College. Dean of the Howard University School of Religion

Atlanta School Board- first African American President Taught and advised Martin Luther King, Jr. while he was a student at Morehouse College. Chairman of the Atlanta Board of Education Street and School in Southwest Atlanta are name in his honor for his contributions to Atlanta and education Died in 1984

“Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.”

End of the White Primary After the Civil War, Democrats tried to keep black people from voting. 15th Amendment- gave blacks the right to vote GA applied this only to the general election and not the primaries. Only whites were allowed to vote in primaries- “White Primary” 1946- King v. Chapman- white primary systems were unconstitutional.

1946 Governor’s Race Ellis Arnall’s term was coming to an end Eugene Talmadge (62) decided to run again but supporters felt he was told old and would die without finishing his term They devised a plan a wrote in his son’s name (Herman Talmadge) so that he would become governor after his father’s passing. Eugene died before being sworn in and Ellis Arnall appointed Lieutenant Governor Melvin Thompson as Governor. This upset Talmadge’s supporters- they broke intot he Governor’s Office, changed the locks on the doors, and readied themselves to run the state.

Governor Arnall set up office downtown and a few days later resigned over the matter. Lieutenant Governor Thompson also opened an office downtown and began the legal proceedings required to gain governorship. Secretary of State Ben Fortson refused to give the official state seal to Talmadge or Thompson. There was no Governor of Georgia at this time. In March of 1947, the Georgia Supreme Court appointed Lieutenant Governor Thompson as Govenor until a special election could be held in 1948. Herman Talmadge was legally elected as Governor of Georgia in 1948.

Talmadge Thompson Talmadge

Herman Talmadge Elected in 1948 and re-elected in 1950 as Governor of Georgia. Strict segregationist and opposed all attempts to integrate Georgia’s public schools. Promise to bring back “White Primary”, but unable Accomplishments as Governor: Restructured the state highway department Created Georgia Forestry Commission Provided Leadership in soil conservation programs, county health departments, and the state’s prison system.

Accomplishments in Education: Provided leadership for a new state constitution that expanded schools to include grades 1-12. 1949- General Assembly passed the Minimum Foundation Program for Education Act. lengthened the school year to nine months raised standards for buildings, equipment, transportation, and school curriculum. 3% sales tax in 1951 to pay for changes in education. 1956- elected to the U.S. Senate.

Brown V. Board of Education 1950- Linda Brown (7), a black student, tried to enroll in an all-white school in Topeka, Kansas. Entry was denied NAACP helped Brown’s father sue the Topeka Board of Education. It reached the U.S. Supreme Court 1954 Ruling- “separate-but-equal” schools are unconstitutional. Ordered racial integration of schools with “speed”. Many states were slow to implement.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia Grandfather was one of the founders of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP and was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. King’s father became the pastor of this church. Dr. King attended several colleges, including Morehouse College. He obtained his Ph.D. in systematic theology Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church- Montgomery, Alabama Married Coretta Scott

He received national attention for his leadership in the boycott. While in school, he became very interested in Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent approach to bring about social change. When Rosa Parks’ refusal brought about a bus boycott, black residents appointed Dr. King to lead the Montgomery Improvement Association. He received national attention for his leadership in the boycott. He believed in a four-prong approach to gaining civil rights for all Americans Direct, nonviolent actions Legal remedies Ballots Economic boycotts

1957- Dr. King and other prominent southern black ministers created the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). 1959- Dr. King moved back to Atlanta to serve as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church with his father. 1963- Dr. King and the SCLC organized huge protests in Birmingham. Received national attention for the police brutality showed toward non-armed black protestors. It prompted President Kennedy to urge Congress to pass major civil rights laws. 1964- Civil Rights Act

August 28, 1963- “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington D.C. 1967- Dr. King began a Poor People’s Campaign to address economic issues left unsolved by the Civil Rights Act. August 28, 1963- “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington D.C. April 3, 1968- “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in Memphis Tennessee. April 4, 1968- Dr. King was assassinated. Awards: 1963- Time Magazine’s Man of the Year 1964- Nobel Peace Prize (2nd African American)

1956 State Flag 1956- State flag was changed to incorporate the St. Andrew’s cross, a Confederate battle emblem. Object of extreme controversy January 31, 2001- Governor Roy Barnes signed the bill authorizing a new state flag into law. Atlanta architect Cecil Alexander designed a new flag that featured the state seal in the center. Below the seal, a banner showed small images of Georgia’s first three state flags, and the first and current images of the U.S. flag. The motto “In God We Trust” appeared below the banner. Object of controversy

May 8, 2003- Governor Sonny Perdue signed a new state flag into law. It is based on the first national flag of the Confederacy. It is a field of three horizontal bars, two red and one white. In the upper left corner is a square blue section containing Georgia’s coat of arms and the words “In God We Trust”. Surrounding the coat of arms is a circle of thirteen white stars representing the original thirteen states.

1956 2001 2003