Lesson starter: What were the problems with the 1957 Civil Rights Act? Sit Ins Lesson starter: What were the problems with the 1957 Civil Rights Act?

Today we will… Understand the purpose of the ‘sit ins’ movement Assess the success of the ‘sit ins’

Background… After the successful outcome of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Black Americans realised that nonviolent protest could actually provide results

No negroes served at this counter The problem… Many Southern states had whites-only lunch counters and seating areas in restaurants and diners WHITES ONLY No negroes served at this counter

February 1960, four students ordered drinks at a white lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina Their order was refused This was normal in Greensboro, a segregated city

They refused to move They returned the next day with 80 more students (black and white) The protesters remained despite threats and insults

The idea of ‘sit ins’ spread quickly across Southern states In a few months, 70,000 people had taken part in sit ins The way they were threatened, insulted and treated brutally by police was shown on TV across the world

FILL THE JAILS! The protestors believed that when jails reached bursting point something would have to be done

By the end of 1960, very few segregated lunch counters remained – the business owners could not afford to lose any more money

How successful were the Sit Ins?

How successful were the Sit Ins? Positives Negatives They showed young people and students they could make a difference to Civil Rights Many business owners were forced to desegregate They created publicity for Civil Rights (police brutality etc) They were only really effective in the towns where they took place Much more needed to be done