🧸US History – 1945 to Present Unit 4 – Civil Rights: Brown to Civil Rights Act

Key Events and Milestones

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional
• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) protested segregation on public buses in Alabama
  • Lasted 381 days and ended with a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional
• Little Rock Nine (1957) integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas amid violent opposition
• Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960) challenged segregation at lunch counters in North Carolina and spread nationwide
• Freedom Rides (1961) tested the enforcement of desegregation in interstate travel
• March on Washington (1963) drew over 200,000 people demanding civil rights legislation
  • Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech
• Birmingham Campaign (1963) used nonviolent direct action to confront segregation in Alabama
• Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965) advocated for voting rights and led to the Voting Rights Act

Legal Battles and Court Decisions

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and the "separate but equal" doctrine
  • Ruled that segregation in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
• Boynton v. Virginia (1960) extended the ban on segregation to interstate bus terminals
• Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964) upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Loving v. Virginia (1967) struck down state laws banning interracial marriage
• Green v. County School Board of New Kent County (1968) required school districts to actively desegregate
• Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971) approved busing as a means to achieve integration
• Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) upheld affirmative action but banned racial quotas

Major Figures and Leaders

• Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement known for his nonviolent approach
  • Helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, March on Washington, and Selma to Montgomery Marches
• Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Malcolm X advocated for black nationalism and self-determination
• Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist and NAACP field secretary in Mississippi
• John Lewis was a student leader and organizer of the Freedom Rides and Selma to Montgomery Marches
• Fannie Lou Hamer was a voting rights activist and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
• Thurgood Marshall was the lead attorney in Brown v. Board of Education and became the first African American Supreme Court Justice
• Ella Baker was a key organizer and mentor to student activists in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Grassroots Movements and Protests

• The Civil Rights Movement relied heavily on grassroots organizing and mass participation
  • Churches, student groups, and local organizations played a crucial role in mobilizing communities
• Nonviolent direct action tactics included sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and freedom rides
  • Aimed to disrupt segregation and draw attention to injustice through peaceful resistance
• Student activism was a driving force, with groups like SNCC and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) leading protests
• The Albany Movement (1961-1962) in Georgia was an early test of mass nonviolent resistance
• The Children's Crusade (1963) in Birmingham involved thousands of young protesters facing arrest and violence
• Freedom Summer (1964) brought volunteers to Mississippi to register black voters and establish Freedom Schools
• The Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965) were a series of protests for voting rights met with brutal police violence

Political Responses and Legislation

• President Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation in Little Rock (1957)
• The Civil Rights Act of 1957 established the Civil Rights Commission and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice
• President Kennedy supported civil rights legislation and used federal powers to enforce desegregation
  • Sent federal marshals to protect the Freedom Riders and integrated the University of Mississippi
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
  • Outlawed segregation in public accommodations and employment
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned discriminatory voting practices and provided federal oversight of elections
• The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing
• President Johnson's Great Society programs aimed to address poverty and inequality

Media and Public Opinion

• Media coverage of the Civil Rights Movement played a significant role in shaping public opinion
  • Images of nonviolent protesters facing violence and arrest generated sympathy and support
• The televised confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma (1965) shocked the nation
• Newspapers and magazines reported on the movement, with some providing favorable coverage and others perpetuating stereotypes
• Public opinion polls showed growing support for civil rights legislation throughout the 1960s
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had broad public approval
• White resistance to desegregation and backlash against the movement also received media attention
  • The "Massive Resistance" campaign in Virginia closed schools rather than integrate them
• International media coverage of the movement put pressure on the U.S. government to address racial injustice

Impact on Society and Culture

• The Civil Rights Movement transformed American society and culture by challenging racial segregation and discrimination
  • Desegregated public spaces, schools, and workplaces, creating more integrated communities
• Empowered African Americans to assert their rights and participate fully in American life
  • Increased black voter registration and political representation
• Inspired other social movements, such as the women's rights, LGBT rights, and disability rights movements
• Contributed to the development of Black Power and black pride movements celebrating African American culture and identity
• Led to greater representation of African Americans in media, arts, and popular culture
  • Shows like "Julia" (1968) and "The Cosby Show" (1984) featured positive portrayals of black families
• Prompted a reexamination of American history and the legacy of slavery and racism
  • Curricula and textbooks began to include more diverse perspectives and experiences

Legacy and Ongoing Challenges

• The Civil Rights Movement achieved significant legal and political victories, but racial inequality persists
  • Disparities in education, employment, housing, health care, and criminal justice remain
• Affirmative action policies have faced legal challenges and debate over their effectiveness and fairness
• Voting rights have come under renewed threat, with voter suppression efforts and the weakening of the Voting Rights Act
  • Shelby County v. Holder (2013) struck down key provisions of the act
• Police brutality and racial profiling continue to strain relations between law enforcement and communities of color
  • High-profile cases like the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and George Floyd have sparked protests and calls for reform
• The Black Lives Matter movement has emerged as a new force for racial justice, building on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
• Ongoing debates over Confederate monuments, flag displays, and the teaching of American history reflect the enduring impact of the Civil Rights era