Topic 4 – I have a dream (1954-68)
Civil Right 1954-63
1. US supreme court cases & role of Earl Warren
- 1954: Brown v. Board of Education led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, overturned
Plessy v. Ferguson and ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional
under the 14th Amendment.
- Major success for Warren and the NAACP but faced strong Southern resistance.
- 1955: Brown II – Ordered the integration of all public schools "with all deliberate
speed."
- 1957: Little Rock Crisis – National attention when 9 Black students were barred
from entering Little Rock Central High School, highlighting the fierce backlash
against desegregation.
2. Montgomery bus boycott
- 1956 Rosa Parks (elected by the NAACP) tested segregation laws on buses as
the SC had declared any segregation concerning seat reservations violated the
14th A
- When Rosa refused to move from the front of the bus (reserved for whites) she
was arrested
- In response; MIA was created (Montgomery Improvement association) which
was an organised taxi service – took business away from buses. Significance:
NON-VIOLENT
- MLK publicised this which led to him rising to prominence. It also led to the
creation of the SCLC
3. MLK & SCLC
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference was created in 1957 and aimed to
fight for black American rights. 3 aims; encourage white parcipitants, fight
through non-violent means and seek for all BA to bring justice
- Acted as an umbrella organisation
4. Student Non-violent co-ordinating committee (SNCC) & Congress of racial equality
CORE
- SNCC protested segregation on lunch counters. They were widely publicised so
gained lots of media attention
Civil Right 1954-63
1. US supreme court cases & role of Earl Warren
- 1954: Brown v. Board of Education led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, overturned
Plessy v. Ferguson and ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional
under the 14th Amendment.
- Major success for Warren and the NAACP but faced strong Southern resistance.
- 1955: Brown II – Ordered the integration of all public schools "with all deliberate
speed."
- 1957: Little Rock Crisis – National attention when 9 Black students were barred
from entering Little Rock Central High School, highlighting the fierce backlash
against desegregation.
2. Montgomery bus boycott
- 1956 Rosa Parks (elected by the NAACP) tested segregation laws on buses as
the SC had declared any segregation concerning seat reservations violated the
14th A
- When Rosa refused to move from the front of the bus (reserved for whites) she
was arrested
- In response; MIA was created (Montgomery Improvement association) which
was an organised taxi service – took business away from buses. Significance:
NON-VIOLENT
- MLK publicised this which led to him rising to prominence. It also led to the
creation of the SCLC
3. MLK & SCLC
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference was created in 1957 and aimed to
fight for black American rights. 3 aims; encourage white parcipitants, fight
through non-violent means and seek for all BA to bring justice
- Acted as an umbrella organisation
4. Student Non-violent co-ordinating committee (SNCC) & Congress of racial equality
CORE
- SNCC protested segregation on lunch counters. They were widely publicised so
gained lots of media attention
