1. Introduction to the topic
Black Civil Rights
Introduction to the topic

2. Focussing Question 1
What position did Blacks hold in American society in the mid-1950s and why were there moves to bring about change?

3. Focussing Question 2
How did Blacks attempt to bring about change, 1955 – 1965?

4. Focussing Question 3
What new directions were pursued in the 1960s?

5. Black History in the USA
The slave trade began in 1619 and by its end 15 million black slaves had been taken to North America.
Blacks provided cheap and plentiful labour for the cotton and the tobacco plantations in the Southern States

6. ...
Other great empires had based agricultural production on the slave trade, e.g. Rome

7. Slave Trade: Conservative estimates of slaves traded to the New World:
16th Century
900,000
17th Century
2,750,000
18th Century
7,000,000
19th Century
4,000,000

8. The US system of Government
US Constitution
The basis of law in the US & the founding document of the country
President
Can propose laws
Can Veto laws but can be overridden by a 2/3 majority in the Senate & Congress
Has control over foreign policy.
Appoints government officials
Senate
Ratifies laws, treaties and can investigate any aspect of US government.
Can impeach or remove Presidents, Senators and Congressmen
Judiciary
Supreme Court
Federal Courts
State Courts
Local Courts
US Supreme Court has the final judgment on laws and the Constitution
Congress
Can propose and pass laws
Can review all aspects of the US government system
Can vote on laws

9. Slavery and the Civil War
Slavery was one of the contributing factors to the American Civil War ( )
President Abraham Lincoln supported the cause of the emancipation of the slaves
The anti-slavery Unionists defeated the Confederates in the Civil War.

10. ...
Lincoln became a hero to the Blacks and Black electoral support for the Republican Party (ie. the party Lincoln had led) continued until the 1930s.
Victory for the Unionists led to three important changes or amendments to the American Constitution:

11. Amendments to the Constitution
Article XIII – Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime, shall exist within the United States
Article XIV – No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States
Article XV – The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on the account of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude.