The American Civil Rights Movement Nathan B. Gilson Southwest Middle School

Atlantic Slave Trade Millions of Africans were sold into slavery to European slave traders Most Africans were brought to South and Central America (Relatively) small numbers of slaves were brought to the British colonies of North America, predominantly in the southern colonies Climate allowed for cash crops like tobacco, rice, and cotton.

All white Men are Created Equal Many of the Enlightenment thinkers were abolitionists Even when Britain ended the Atlantic slave trade, America still passed laws that kept all slaves (and children of slaves) as slaves in America Laws were passed that counted slaves as 3/5 ths of a person when counting for Congressional representation, but they were neither free nor could they vote unless they had purchased their own freedom.

The American Civil War Eventually, slavery, States’ Rights, and economic issues would lead to the American Civil War ( ) Emancipation Proclamation (1863)—President Lincoln freed all slaves in the South (which was currently not recognizing any Federal Laws.) Did not free slaves in any State still a part of the United States of America. 14 th and 15 th Amendments granted freedom and the right to vote to all men regardless of race.

Jim Crow Laws Beginning in the 1890’s, Southerners began to pass laws which took voting rights and other rights away from Black citizens. Passed laws about voting tests Passed “separate but equal” laws about public spaces, transportation, and schools Also, while the legal system technically applied to all races equally by the Constitution, many judges gave extremely lenient consequences to White citizens and extremely harsh sentences to Black citizens.

Ku Klux Klan Began as a social organization with no racist agenda but quickly transformed into a white supremacist, terrorist organization Voter intimidation Cross burnings and other intimidation tactics Marches and rallies Lynchings The Klan membership hit its high in the 1920’s when they expanded to include attacks on Jews, Asians, Catholics, and any group except Protestant, White Americans.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By the 1950’s, significant portions of the country (Black and White) were ready to see the end of segregation in America. Birmingham Bus Boycott In response to the arrest of several Black American women’s refusal to give up their seats to Whites in Birmingham, Alabama Dr. King led the protests by successfully boycotting the public transportation system for over a year.

Influence of Gandhi Gandhi had a profound impact on many American Civil Rights leaders Many practices his methods of boycotts and civil disobedience with non-violence Dr. King took a trip to India in the late 1950’s which he later acknowledges was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. Like Gandhi, many American activists went to prison many times for refusing to comply with laws they considered to be unjust. (Dr. King— 30 times)

The Nation of Islam Not all civil rights leaders agreed with non-violence as a valid protesting strategy. Malcolm X (Malcolm Little) and the Nation of Islam believed that Blacks were superior to Whites, that they should stand up for themselves, and that the ultimate goal of the Civil Rights Movement should be to stop abuse of Black citizens, followed by a return to Africa Later changed his views on this and spent the last year of his life working to increase cooperation among all civil rights groups.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin Desegregated schools and public places Ended unfair voting registration requirements Initial enforcement of the law was weak, and it was not until the 1970’s that all states finally complied with the Civil Rights Act.

Assassinations Malcolm X was assassinated by several extremist members of the Nation of Islam due to his break with their official position a year earlier and conversion to Sunni Islam. (1965) Dr. King was assassinated in 1968 while continuing to work for equality and fairness in American society.

The Legacy of Dr. King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that.” In adopting a non-violent approach to protest, Dr. King enabled healing and a peaceful transformation of American society. If the American Civil Rights Movement had become violent, it is possible that there would continue to be hatred and mistrust between different races to this day.