The Civil Rights Movement Essential Question: How did the Civil Rights Movement become a nationwide movement in the 1960s?
The Sit-In Movement Four college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, stayed in their seats at a Woolworth’s lunch counter after being refused service Succeeded at getting businesses to desegregate lunch counters Leaders formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
The Freedom Riders Bus travel remained segregated despite court ruling Members of CORE decided to bring attention to this issue Sent groups on bus trips to the South Angry mobs met Freedom Riders Bus companies refused to sell the Freedom Riders tickets and CORE disbanded the Freedom Ride
Federal Intervention SNCC continued Freedom Rides Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent federal marshals to protect the riders The Interstate Commerce Commission finally forced the integration of bus and train stations
Integrating Higher Education Air Force veteran Applied to segregated University of Mississippi 500 Federal Marshalls accompanied him Full scale riot Kennedy sent in several thousand troops Attended classes w/ federal guard James Meridith
The Birmingham Campaign King picked Birmingham because it was known for segregation Started w/ Sit-ins and marches King writes famous letter in jail Used children as alternative strategy Police chief used police and fire fighters to break up protesters
March on Washington On August 28, 1963, the largest civil rights demonstration ever held in the U.S. More than 200,000 people marched and listened to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
Civil Rights Act 1964 Continuing difficulties: Medgar Evers, Birmingham Church bombing Johnson supported bill Johnson signed the Act into law on July 2, 1964 The law banned discrimination in employment and in public accommodations
Talk to your neighbor: How did the Civil Rights Movement become a nationwide movement in the 1960s?