Harry Truman & Integration of U.S. Military and Federal Government July 26, 1948 Signed Executive Order 9981 integrating the United States Military Truman was disturbed by the violence against southern blacks and became a supporter of Civil Rights. Wanted to ensure voting rights and fair employment to African Americans. EO 9980 – Created the Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment. EO 9981- established the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services.

Jackie Robinson Born Cairo, GA First African American during the Modern Era to play Baseball in the Major League.

The Origins of the Movement Supreme Court had declared segregation LEGAL (Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896 – “Separate but Equal”) Jim Crow Laws in the South De Facto Segregation in the North (by custom and tradition)

Churches Get Involved African American churches played a key role in the movement (became a place for forums, planning meetings, organizing volunteers for campaigns, etc.) Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Non-Violent Protests Marches Sit-ins Freedom Rides

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Student organization that led many of the sit-ins More aggressive (but not violent) because they were younger, had no families to support, and could take more risks

Freedom Riders Teams of African Americans and white Americans traveled to the South to integrate bus terminals Met with violence Made the national news and shocked many Americans

Group Work Complete the document based question packet in groups of 3 or 4.

Major Court cases Plessy v. Ferguson Established the doctrine of “Separate but Equal” that allowed segregation.

Major Court Cases Brown v. Board of Education Established that the policy of “Separate but equal” was unconstitutional. Overturned Plessy decision!

Little Rock, Arkansas - 1957 Governor Orval Faubus Central High School Refused to allow African American students in.

Eisenhower & Little Rock, Arkansas President Eisenhower sent U.S. troops to Little Rock (Central High School) to enforce the law.

Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” The letter he wrote from jail explained why victims of segregation, violent attacks, and murder found it difficult to be patient. MLK held demonstrations in Alabama, feeling that they were the only way to get the President’s attention.

“I Have a Dream Speech”

JFK’s Assassination Kennedy was a supporter of Civil Rights Legislation. After his death, President Lyndon Johnson felt that, in order to honor JFK’s memory, he needed to get Kennedy’s legislation passed

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Gave the federal government broad power to stop racial discrimination in the segregation in public places and in the workplace.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Civil Rights Act did little to guarantee the right to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave the attorney general the right to send federal examiners to register qualified voters (resulted in 250,000 new African American voters)

1947 – 1948 – 1954 – 1963 – 1964 – 1965 – Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play for a major league baseball team President Truman issued an executive order to integrate to US government and armed forces Brown v. Board of Education – Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional MLK was arrested in Birmingham, AL. He wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to address fears that white religious leaders had that he was moving too fast MLK delivers his famous “I Have a Dream” speech Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965