The Triumphs of a Crusade Chapter 21 / Section 2
Riding for Freedom Freedom Riders, civil rights activists testing segregation laws. WHY? Want a reaction from Southerners so the Kennedy Admin. would take action against segregation.
Standing Firm Desegregation on the Interstate system would push more in the South. (ex: Schools) James Meredith, an Air Force Veteran was allowed to enroll at all-white University of Mississippi. PROBLEMS?
Standing Firm (cont’d) Problems in the South (cont’d): Birmingham, Alabama city known for strict segregation and racial violence. Martin Luther King, Jr. tries to help end. HOW DO THEY END? END SEGREGATION!
Standing Firm (cont’d) President Kennedy takes stand on segregation. Has federal troops desegregate Uni. of Alabama. Demands Civil Rights Bills sweep through Congress. WHO IS MEDGER EVERS?
Marching to Washington President Kennedy sent a bill to Congress to guarantee equal rights. However, Congress need persuasion. WHAT PEOPLE DO? Led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Johnson. Prohibits discrimination!!
Fighting for Voting Rights African-Americans sought power by electing civil rights legislators. Led to Freedom Summer in Mississippi. Project led by Robert Moses. Purpose get black voters registered and vote. PROBLEM?
Fighting for Voting Rights (cont’d) Freedom Summer had little success but African-Americans don’t give up. Fannie Lou Hamer, speaks at the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Convention. Votes even though harms family. Causes bigger problems.
Fighting for Voting Rights (cont’d) Selma Campaign: (1965) SNCC had been working two years to register voters. African-Americans more than half of population; but only 3% vote. PURPOSE? March Selma to Montgomery.
Fighting for Voting Rights (cont’d) Demonstrations led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, eliminates the literacy test that disqualified many voters. Registered African-American voters tripled in the South.