29.2-The Triumphs of a Crusade Lesson Objective: To understand the freedom rides, freedom summer, and March on Washington
MAJOR DATES 1961: THE FREEDOM RIDES 1962: JAMES MEREDITH ENROLLS AT OLE MISS 1963: THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON 1964: FREEDOM SUMMER CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF : THE SELMA CAMPAIGN VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
KEY PLAYERS JAMES MEREDITH GOV. ROSS BARNETT GOV. GEORGE WALLACE “BULL” CONNOR MEDGAR EVERS MLK ROBERT MOSES FANNIE LOU HAMMER
THE FREEDOM RIDES WHEN? Spring, 1961 WHAT? Civil Rights “rides” from Washington, DC to New Orleans Rides traveled through most highly segregated areas of South WHO? C.O.R.E. organizes rides PURPOSE? Highlight injustice of bus segregation Attract public & media attention to problem Force state and / or federal gov’t. to end segregation WHAT HAPPENS? Rides attacked in Deep South (define) Birmingham, AL is worst: “Bull” Connor RESPONSE? JFK sends federal marshals to protect riders
James Meredith and Ole Miss University of Mississippi: “Ole Miss” Ole Miss was segregated, like most Southern universities Fall, 1962: James Meredith given court permission to enroll at Ole Miss Gov. Ross Barnett refuses to allow it (see p. 865) Response: JFK orders federal marshals to ensure Meredith’s enrollment Q: What event is this similar to? Result? Violence, riots at Ole Miss Federal marshals stay; ensure Meredith’s enrollment
James Meredith
James Meredith Wounded, 1966
Birmingham 1963: MLK travels to Birmingham to hold civil rights meetings & stage nonviolent protests Police Commissioner: Eugene “Bull” Connor Connor arrests MLK & other leaders MLK released, protests continue Connor responds w/force: Water cannon Attack dogs Clubbings, beatings, etc. Tear gas Event caught on film by mass media Civil Rights given more nationwide media attention
Other Events 1963: JFK orders Alabama Gov. George Wallace to integrate University of Alabama Medgar Evers, NAACP officer, murdered in Jackson, Miss. by Byron de la Beckwith Beckwith charged, released due to insufficient evidence 1994: Beckwith re- tried, convicted of murder
Gov. George Wallace of Alabama “And I Say… Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, and Segregation Forever!” Gov. George Wallace
The March on Washington When? August, 1963 Who? MLK leads effort 250,000 Civil Rights supporters Where? The Washington “Mall” Purpose? Pressure Congress to sign a law guaranteeing equal access to public accommodations Hopefully gain more national support / media attention Highlight: MLK’s “I Have A Dream” Speech Effect: LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1964
“I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH Washington, D.C. - August, 1963
FREEDOM SUMMER WHEN? Summer, 1964 WHO? Robert Moses and SNCC WHERE? Deep South, especially Mississippi PURPOSE? -Increase African-American voter registration in Deep South -Push Congress towards new voting rights laws -Gain media attention RESULTS? -Extreme violence from white extremists, especially KKK -Murder, bombings, intimidation, etc. all used -Did not result in new voting rights laws
Freedom Summer Murder Victims
The Selma Campaign WHEN? January, 1965 WHERE? Selma, ALABAMA WHO? MLK & SCLC PURPOSE? Voter registration in Deep South still needed attention WHY? FREEDOM SUMMER had failed MLK & SCLC decide to attempt same thing in AL Results? Much of the same (Shooting, beatings, arrests) SCLC organizes protest march from Selma to Montgomery, AL Police violence attracts more media attention Final Result? Voting Rights Act of 1965