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The Montgomery Bus Boycott
The African Americans decided to stop using the buses when Rosa Parks got arrested for refusing to move her seat on the bus for a white person. They decided to protest and stop riding the buses until they beame integrated. It was a peaceful protest. Fun Fact; Black churches across the country donated shoes to the boycotters who were wearing out their shoes walking. -
The Little Rock NIne
The school board in little rock, arkansas won a court order that required nine african amercians students be admitted to central high with was a school with 2000 white students. The govern of Arkansas Orval Faubus did not like this and demanded troops to go to the school so those 9 students couldn't enter. An angry white mob even joined in with the troops.
fun fact; Melba Patillo grew up to become a reporter for NBC News. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1957
It was intended to protect the right of African Americans to vote. President Eisenhower firmly believed in the right to vote so he believed it was only right to fight for their rights to vote. Although it didnt work out completely as planned, it still brought the power of the federal government into the civil rights debate.
fun fact; Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th American President who served in office from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961. One of the important events during his presidency -
The Sit- in Movement
Four young african americans enroll at North Carolina Argicultural and Technical College. One of them suggested a sit- in at the whites- only lunch counter in the nearby Woolworths department store. They purchased school supplies but were refused to get served lunch. They sat there until the counter closed. By the end of the week 300 students were taking part. They established the Student Nonviolent Coordianting Committee.
fun fact; In just two months the sit-in movement spread to 15 cities in -
Freedom Riders
Seven blacks and six whites left Washington, D.C. on two public buses bound for the Deep South. They intended to test the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia. It declared segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unconstitutional. When the riber emerged from the bus they were met face to face with a white gang that was armed with bats, chains, and lead pipes. The president became outraged.
fun fact; The ICC outlawed segregation in interstate travel, the Supreme Court voided stat -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
Jsmes tried to transfer to the university of mississippi. at this point the school had avoided complying with the supreme court ruling that ended segregation education. the governer was blcking his way to register. he went to the court but the governer refused. president kennedy had 500 federal marshals escort him to the campus so he could go to school. shortly after a white mob attacked him and a full riot broke out.
fun fact; He grad. from Ole Miss in 1963 with a political science degree. -
Protests in Birmingham
Dr.King decided to launch demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama knowing they would provoke a violent repsonse which would make the government get involved. King was arrested a few days after the protests began. He had been getting papers smuggled into his cell. King got released and the protests began to grow again. Bull Connor responded with force and ordered the police to use clubs, police dogs, and high pressure fire hoses on the demonstrators. Kennedy prepare a new civil rights bill. -
The March on Washington
200,000 demonstrators of all races went to the nations capital. the audience heard speeches and sang songs together peacefully. Dr. King delieved him powerful speech outlining his dream of freedom and equality for all americans. Kings speech built momentum for the civil rights bill.
fun fact; Organizers sent out different versions of brochures about the March for blacks and whites. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
It gave the federal government broad power to prevent racial discrimination in a number of areas. the law made segrgation illegal in most places of public accomodations, and gave citizens of all races and nationalities equal access to public facilities. gave US attorney general more power to bring law suitd to force school desgregation and required private employers to end discrimination in the workplace. also established the equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC) as a permanent agency. -
The Selma March
the sclc and dr.king selected selma, alabama as the main center for their campaign for voting rights. selmas population they comprised only 3 percent of registered voters. jim clark tried to stop as many africans as he could from voting. many were beaten live on camera. this became known as the "bloody sunday".
fun fact; In Selma 40 years ago black people lived on a separate side of town than the white people. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
It authorized the US attorney general to send federal examiners to register qualified voters, bypassing local officals who often refused to register African Amercians. it also suspended discriminatory devices, such a literay tests, in counties where less than half of all adults had been registered to vote. by 250,000 african americans had registered as new voters.
fun fact; its marked as the turning point in the civil rights movement. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
He was assainated by a sniper. his death touched off both national mourning and riots in more than 100 cities. in the wake of his death the congress did pass the civil rights act of 1968. the act contained a fair0 housing provision outlawing discrimination in housing sales and rentals and gave the justice department authority to bring suits against such discrimination.
fun fact; his death marked the end of an era in american history.
