Theme 3: CIVIL SOCIETY PROTEST 1950’S-1970
Background
In 1950s many African Americans lived in southern states of USA where laws
discriminated against them and prevented them from voting
In 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement emerged that used non-violent tactics to
demand equality and end segregation
Despite being freed from slavery during the Civil War of 1861-1866, political rights were
not granted to blacks in these southern states
Post war south: reconstruction
After civil war, process of introducing and managing change was known as reconstruction.
During this, Congress passed laws and Supreme court issued rulings that tried to introduce
racial equality into US.
Failures within reconstruction:
Failed to bring great economic gains to blacks
Southern whites who were fearful and resentful to blacks, depicted reconstruction as an
era of black rule, rape, murder and arson which made an excuse to disenfranchise blacks
Failed to bring about long lasting political gains for blacks
Jim Crow Laws
Social divisions or segregation became enshrined in law
Power given to individual states under the Constitution facilitated introduction of JCL
that discriminated against black Americans by insisting that they use separate facilities,
services and live separately from whites
When, after Reconstruction, Southern states introduced laws that legalized segregation,
they were known as Jim Crow Laws
Ku Klux Klan
KKK was a white racist group that began to terrorize blacks and were involved in lynching.
Black responses to Racism and Segregation
Many migrated northwards
Protests were sporadic and uncoordinated
Accommodationists believed that the best way to survive was to accept the status quo
W.E.B du Bois opposed accomodationism and advocated protests. He established
NAACP in 1909
By 1930, increasing sense of community amongst blacks through newspapers, civic
clubs, churches, NAACP and individuals emphasized racial pride, self-respect and self-
reliance
With Great Depression and loss of jobs, many blacks who had previously associated the
Democratic Party with white supremacy, became impressed by democrat Roosevelt and
started to vote for his party
Trade unionists, socialist and communists were important in raising black awareness of
potential black political and economic power
, WW2 led to increased urbanization in north which increased awareness and activism
Major Civil Rights Organisations
NAACP 1909 – National Association for Advancement of Coloured People
Use law courts and law-making bodies to advance the rights of African Americans. Tackled
issues through courts.
Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
NAACP challenged segregation in the public education system
Linda Carol Brown was a black pupil in Kansas who was refused entry into the local all-
white primary school.
NAACP took her case to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled that segregation in
the public school system was illegal.
It is important to note that despite this important ruling most schools in the southern
states remained segregated. Other facilities such as libraries, restaurants and buses
were also segregated.
The southern states did not abide by the policy of the federal government which was to
end segregation. White racists intimidated blacks and prevented them from voting,
which did go against the constitution of the USA
CORE 1942 by group of students – Congress of Racial Equality
Played a leading role in the organisation of sit-ins, freedom rides and other civil rights
protests of 1961.
SCLC 1957 – Sourthen Christian Leadership Conference
Was led by Martin Luther King Junior and other ministers. Its strategy was direct action and
mass mobilisation.
SNCC 1960 – Student Non-violent Co-ordinating Committee
Played a leading role in organising sit-ins, freedom rides and the Washington March.
Founded by university students and followed the policy of non-violent direct action. Many
left the organisation and it ceased to function in 1970.
MLK
Trained civil rights activists how to organise non-violent protests and how to deal with
police, law and media
King believed that activists who were jailed could educate and transform their
oppressors through the dignified and non-violent way they accepted their treatment.
He believed that blacks and whites could live together in equality and friendship and was
arrested many times during his campaigns, his house was firebombed, and he was
continually harassed by police.
He did remain committed to social justice and equality and was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1964 for his non-violent, civil rights campaigns
MLK and SCLC were involved in:
Background
In 1950s many African Americans lived in southern states of USA where laws
discriminated against them and prevented them from voting
In 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement emerged that used non-violent tactics to
demand equality and end segregation
Despite being freed from slavery during the Civil War of 1861-1866, political rights were
not granted to blacks in these southern states
Post war south: reconstruction
After civil war, process of introducing and managing change was known as reconstruction.
During this, Congress passed laws and Supreme court issued rulings that tried to introduce
racial equality into US.
Failures within reconstruction:
Failed to bring great economic gains to blacks
Southern whites who were fearful and resentful to blacks, depicted reconstruction as an
era of black rule, rape, murder and arson which made an excuse to disenfranchise blacks
Failed to bring about long lasting political gains for blacks
Jim Crow Laws
Social divisions or segregation became enshrined in law
Power given to individual states under the Constitution facilitated introduction of JCL
that discriminated against black Americans by insisting that they use separate facilities,
services and live separately from whites
When, after Reconstruction, Southern states introduced laws that legalized segregation,
they were known as Jim Crow Laws
Ku Klux Klan
KKK was a white racist group that began to terrorize blacks and were involved in lynching.
Black responses to Racism and Segregation
Many migrated northwards
Protests were sporadic and uncoordinated
Accommodationists believed that the best way to survive was to accept the status quo
W.E.B du Bois opposed accomodationism and advocated protests. He established
NAACP in 1909
By 1930, increasing sense of community amongst blacks through newspapers, civic
clubs, churches, NAACP and individuals emphasized racial pride, self-respect and self-
reliance
With Great Depression and loss of jobs, many blacks who had previously associated the
Democratic Party with white supremacy, became impressed by democrat Roosevelt and
started to vote for his party
Trade unionists, socialist and communists were important in raising black awareness of
potential black political and economic power
, WW2 led to increased urbanization in north which increased awareness and activism
Major Civil Rights Organisations
NAACP 1909 – National Association for Advancement of Coloured People
Use law courts and law-making bodies to advance the rights of African Americans. Tackled
issues through courts.
Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
NAACP challenged segregation in the public education system
Linda Carol Brown was a black pupil in Kansas who was refused entry into the local all-
white primary school.
NAACP took her case to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled that segregation in
the public school system was illegal.
It is important to note that despite this important ruling most schools in the southern
states remained segregated. Other facilities such as libraries, restaurants and buses
were also segregated.
The southern states did not abide by the policy of the federal government which was to
end segregation. White racists intimidated blacks and prevented them from voting,
which did go against the constitution of the USA
CORE 1942 by group of students – Congress of Racial Equality
Played a leading role in the organisation of sit-ins, freedom rides and other civil rights
protests of 1961.
SCLC 1957 – Sourthen Christian Leadership Conference
Was led by Martin Luther King Junior and other ministers. Its strategy was direct action and
mass mobilisation.
SNCC 1960 – Student Non-violent Co-ordinating Committee
Played a leading role in organising sit-ins, freedom rides and the Washington March.
Founded by university students and followed the policy of non-violent direct action. Many
left the organisation and it ceased to function in 1970.
MLK
Trained civil rights activists how to organise non-violent protests and how to deal with
police, law and media
King believed that activists who were jailed could educate and transform their
oppressors through the dignified and non-violent way they accepted their treatment.
He believed that blacks and whites could live together in equality and friendship and was
arrested many times during his campaigns, his house was firebombed, and he was
continually harassed by police.
He did remain committed to social justice and equality and was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1964 for his non-violent, civil rights campaigns
MLK and SCLC were involved in:
