Freedom Now! United States History

Focus Questions What are sit-ins and Freedom Rides, and why were they important in the 1960s? How was the integration of higher education achieved in the South? What role did Albany, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, play in the history of Civil Rights? What concerns and events led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Main Idea The quest for civil rights became a nationwide movement in the 1960s as African Americans won political and legal rights, and segregation was largely abolished.

Sit-ins and Freedom Rides Strategy of nonviolence used by Mohandas Gandhi exposes injustice for those in power to end it Used by James Farmer of CORE, Martin Luther King Jr. of SCLC SNCC: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee formed by successful sit-in leaders Freedom Riders sought to enforce desegregation in bus stations, they feared death, many were jailed 1. What are sit-ins and Freedom Rides, and why were they important in the 1960s?

Integrating Higher Education In 1960 integration reached universities U. of Georgia: Charlayne Hunter, Hamilton Holmes, suspended, reinstated, fed. Marshalls intervened, graduated 1963 U. of Mississippi: James Meredith graduated with the aid of federal troops U. of Alabama: Gov. George Wallace blocked admission of Vivian Malone, James Hood, but he stepped aside 2. How was the integration of higher education achieved in the South?

Albany and Birmingham Albany Movement: plan by MLK to bring national attention to the lack on integration at Albany’s bus stations; MLK was jailed; proved unsuccessful Birmingham Campaign: MLK jailed again, penned “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”; authorities were violent-used water hoses; King used children for protest; city officials finally agreed to King’s demands; some whites still did not accept the compromise and a riot ensued; Kennedy sent in troops to restore order 3. What role did Albany, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, play in the history of Civil Rights?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Kennedy wanted Civil Rights, Johnson signed into law Medgar Evers, NAACP head, shot dead in Mississippi March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Banned discrimination in public accommodations Outlawed unequal voting requirements Barred discrimination in employment based on race, gender, religion or national origin Established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Applied federal power to speed integration of school and other public facilities 4. What concerns and events led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?