Social & Political Changes Section 2

Women’s Rights- 19th Amendment Another American change that occurred during the 20th century was the passing of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote.

Civil Rights for African Americans People also fought for equal rights for African Americans during the 20th century. During the mid-1900’s, some Virginians joined others across the nation to fight for equal rights for all Americans in a time period known as the Civil Rights Era.

Civil Rights for African Americans For much of Virginia’s history, African Americans and other minorities have dealt with discrimination & prejudice. Discrimination is the unfair treatment of a person or group based on prejudices. A prejudice is an unfair opinion about a group that’s not based on fact but rather the group’s reputation. Segregation (the separation of people, usually based on race or religion) was common in many services & facilities such as schools, hospitals, and restrooms. The “separate but equal” facilities that African Americans were forced to use were not as nice and were actually NOT equal to those available to white Virginians. By the mid 20th century, people all over the country were working desegregation, which is the abolishment of racial segregation.

Barbara Johns A Virginian who worked for desegregation in public schools. She was a Virginia high school student who led a student strike against segregation in 1951. The students ended up suing the school system for equal access to good schools in a court case called Davis vs. Prince Edward. The students lost the court case.

Getting Rid of Segregation All Over America In 1954, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a court cased named “Brown vs. Board of Education” that “separate but equal” public schools were unconstitutional (they went against the ideas and laws of the US Constitution). All public schools, including those in Virginia, were ordered to desegregate. Virginia’s government established a policy of Massive Resistance, which fought to “resist” the integration of public schools. Some schools were closed to avoid integration. Massive Resistance failed, and Virginia’s public schools were finally integrated!

amendment

abolishment of racial segregation the separation of people, usually based on race or religion abolishment of racial segregation is an unfair opinion about a group that’s not based on fact but rather the group’s reputation. Combining as equals in society. Failing to comply with the U.S. Constitution. Refusal to accept or comply.

She led a student strike against segregation in 1951. The students sued the school system for equal access to good schools. The students lost the case. She led a student strike against segregation in 1951.

1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a court cased All public schools, including those in Virginia, were ordered to desegregate. It was found to be unconstitutional.

To “resist” the integration of public schools. Massive Resistance failed. Virginia’s public schools were finally integrated! Some schools were closed to avoid integration. *Harry F. Byrd (VA Senator)