Topic 3
The US Civil Rights Movement
Reasons & origins of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA:
o African Americans freed from slavery during the American Civil War.
o For a short while after the war, new laws passes
gave them political rights, including the right to vote.
o These rights gradually taken away when
o conservative whites regained political control in the Southern
States.
o Many states passed the so-called ‘Black Codes’
ensured African Americans did not have equal rights.
o These laws and many that followed ensured that segregation between
black and white Americans continued
became known as the ‘Jim Crow’ laws.
KKK work to prevent desegregation in the South
o KKK was set up in Tennessee and spread among the Southern States.
o Objective - to prevent African Americans from voting.
o Became more vicious in its methods to prevent desegregation and
extension of constitutional rights to all.
o Carried out violent attacks on the houses of African Americans.
o 1890 - 1900 average of 175 African Americans were lynched every
year in the South.
Page 1 of 19
,Topic 3
Plessy vs Ferguson
o 1896 - right of states to insist on separate public facilities was upheld by
the Supreme Court in the Plessy vs Ferguson judgment.
o Court ruled that separate but equal facilities for black and white
people was both legal and constitutional.
o 1909 NAACP founded to promote black equality.
o Used peaceful methods
- legal challenges
- speeches
- demonstrations
o Without much success.
Congress of Racial Equality
o 1942 - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was formed.
o Planned to change racist attitudes and end segregation using
passive resistance.
o WW II had a major influence on black servicemen.
o They came back to the US wanting to achieve equality.
o 1950s - establishment of the US Civil Rights Movement.
o To provide African Americans with a coherent strategy to fight for
their constitutional and civil rights.
o Aimed to achieve equal rights where equally protected by the law.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia.
o Decided to follow his father into the ministry.
o 1954 - became a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Various protests & campaigns of the NAACP and CORE had already
challenged the Jim Crow laws.
Page 2 of 19
, Topic 3
o Christian church was not central to these campaigns.
o NAACP’s leaders included white Americans while CORE focused on
mainly white university students.
o King changed all of this - he strengthened the role of religion in the
movement.
MLK’s leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement:
o Soon after the King family moved to Montgomery the landmark Brown
vs. Board of Education of Topeka decision was made.
o This galvanised the struggle for civil rights in America.
o Highly segregated city of Montgomery became its epicentre.
o King was ideally positioned to take on a leading role in this struggle.
o Position as pastor enabled him to see the suffering of African
Americans.
o Gave him a platform from which he could speak out against
injustices.
o Leadership role affirmed when he was elected to lead the
Montgomery Bus Boycott.
o His role increased - entered the national spotlight as an inspirational
proponent of organised, non-violent resistance.
Formation of the SCLC
1957 - after the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott King and other
activists – most of them fellow ministers – founded the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
SCLC
o Planned to keep the spirit of the bus boycott alive.
o Committed themselves to achieving full equality for African
Americans through non-violence.
o Motto - Not one hair of one head of one person should be harmed.
Page 3 of 19
The US Civil Rights Movement
Reasons & origins of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA:
o African Americans freed from slavery during the American Civil War.
o For a short while after the war, new laws passes
gave them political rights, including the right to vote.
o These rights gradually taken away when
o conservative whites regained political control in the Southern
States.
o Many states passed the so-called ‘Black Codes’
ensured African Americans did not have equal rights.
o These laws and many that followed ensured that segregation between
black and white Americans continued
became known as the ‘Jim Crow’ laws.
KKK work to prevent desegregation in the South
o KKK was set up in Tennessee and spread among the Southern States.
o Objective - to prevent African Americans from voting.
o Became more vicious in its methods to prevent desegregation and
extension of constitutional rights to all.
o Carried out violent attacks on the houses of African Americans.
o 1890 - 1900 average of 175 African Americans were lynched every
year in the South.
Page 1 of 19
,Topic 3
Plessy vs Ferguson
o 1896 - right of states to insist on separate public facilities was upheld by
the Supreme Court in the Plessy vs Ferguson judgment.
o Court ruled that separate but equal facilities for black and white
people was both legal and constitutional.
o 1909 NAACP founded to promote black equality.
o Used peaceful methods
- legal challenges
- speeches
- demonstrations
o Without much success.
Congress of Racial Equality
o 1942 - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was formed.
o Planned to change racist attitudes and end segregation using
passive resistance.
o WW II had a major influence on black servicemen.
o They came back to the US wanting to achieve equality.
o 1950s - establishment of the US Civil Rights Movement.
o To provide African Americans with a coherent strategy to fight for
their constitutional and civil rights.
o Aimed to achieve equal rights where equally protected by the law.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta Georgia.
o Decided to follow his father into the ministry.
o 1954 - became a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Various protests & campaigns of the NAACP and CORE had already
challenged the Jim Crow laws.
Page 2 of 19
, Topic 3
o Christian church was not central to these campaigns.
o NAACP’s leaders included white Americans while CORE focused on
mainly white university students.
o King changed all of this - he strengthened the role of religion in the
movement.
MLK’s leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement:
o Soon after the King family moved to Montgomery the landmark Brown
vs. Board of Education of Topeka decision was made.
o This galvanised the struggle for civil rights in America.
o Highly segregated city of Montgomery became its epicentre.
o King was ideally positioned to take on a leading role in this struggle.
o Position as pastor enabled him to see the suffering of African
Americans.
o Gave him a platform from which he could speak out against
injustices.
o Leadership role affirmed when he was elected to lead the
Montgomery Bus Boycott.
o His role increased - entered the national spotlight as an inspirational
proponent of organised, non-violent resistance.
Formation of the SCLC
1957 - after the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott King and other
activists – most of them fellow ministers – founded the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
SCLC
o Planned to keep the spirit of the bus boycott alive.
o Committed themselves to achieving full equality for African
Americans through non-violence.
o Motto - Not one hair of one head of one person should be harmed.
Page 3 of 19
