The Civil Rights Movement: American Government and Citizenship at Work

The Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights: fundamental rights belonging to every citizen Civil Rights: fundamental rights belonging to every citizen Examples: equal protection of laws, equal pay for equal work, equal educational and employment opportunities Examples: equal protection of laws, equal pay for equal work, equal educational and employment opportunities Minority groups have had to fight for their civil rights Minority groups have had to fight for their civil rights African Americans, women, Native Americans, workers/laborers African Americans, women, Native Americans, workers/laborers African American movement began in 1954 with school desegregation and 1955 with the Montgomery Bus Boycott African American movement began in 1954 with school desegregation and 1955 with the Montgomery Bus Boycott Focused on desegregation and voting rights Focused on desegregation and voting rights A “people’s movement” led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A “people’s movement” led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Civil Rights Movement Constitutional and Citizenship Principles at Work Constitutional and Citizenship Principles at Work Supreme Court interprets the Constitution Supreme Court interprets the Constitution Federal vs. State Governments Federal vs. State Governments President enforces the law President enforces the law Congress makes laws Congress makes laws 1 st Amendment rights generate change 1 st Amendment rights generate change Responsible citizenship: civil disobedience Responsible citizenship: civil disobedience “All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…” – What does this really mean? “All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…” – What does this really mean?

Why did we need a Civil Rights Movement? Reconstruction: period of time following the Civil War Reconstruction: period of time following the Civil War 13 th Amendment: ended slavery in 1865, BUT… 13 th Amendment: ended slavery in 1865, BUT… Black Codes: laws designed to restrict freedom of former slaves Black Codes: laws designed to restrict freedom of former slaves pdfMississippi.pdf pdfMississippi.pdf pdfMississippi.pdf pdfMississippi.pdf Rise of the KKK and “mob justice”; lynchings Rise of the KKK and “mob justice”; lynchings Meant to keep African Americans “in their place” Meant to keep African Americans “in their place”

Mob Violence in the South (and the North)

Mob Violence and Lynchings

Why did we need a Civil Rights Movement Radical Republicans: political group interested in protecting rights for African Americans Radical Republicans: political group interested in protecting rights for African Americans 14 th Amendment (1868): granted citizenship and equal protection of the laws to anyone born in the United States (to include most former slaves) 14 th Amendment (1868): granted citizenship and equal protection of the laws to anyone born in the United States (to include most former slaves) 15 Amendment (1869): granted African American males the right to vote 15 Amendment (1869): granted African American males the right to vote

Why did we need a Civil Rights Movement? Southerners (and many Northerners) found ways around these amendments Southerners (and many Northerners) found ways around these amendments 14 th Amendment denied  segregation 14 th Amendment denied  segregation Legalized in 1896 with Plessy vs. Ferguson court case Legalized in 1896 with Plessy vs. Ferguson court case “Separate but equal” doctrine “Separate but equal” doctrine Gave rise to Jim Crow laws  segregated schools, restrooms, railroad cars, drinking fountains, movie theaters, any public place Gave rise to Jim Crow laws  segregated schools, restrooms, railroad cars, drinking fountains, movie theaters, any public place

Jim Crow

Why did we need a Civil Rights Movement? 15 th Amendment denied 15 th Amendment denied “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied…on account of race, color, or previous servitude.” “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied…on account of race, color, or previous servitude.” Poll taxes: taxes must be paid before voting  excluded poor, former slaves Poll taxes: taxes must be paid before voting  excluded poor, former slaves Literacy tests: proof of reading ability and civic knowledge required before voting  excluded uneducated former slaves Literacy tests: proof of reading ability and civic knowledge required before voting  excluded uneducated former slaves Grandfather clauses: voting eligibility based on ancestors’ voting eligibility  excluded anyone whose ancestors were slaves Grandfather clauses: voting eligibility based on ancestors’ voting eligibility  excluded anyone whose ancestors were slaves

Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests

Why did we need a Civil Rights Movement? Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the system of segregation and the exclusion of African Americans from the political process created two separate, but unequal societies. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the system of segregation and the exclusion of African Americans from the political process created two separate, but unequal societies. Something had to be done… Something had to be done…