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The Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks denied to give up her rightful seat on the bus for a white man and was arrested.On the day Rosa Parks was to appear in court, African Americans boycotted Montgomery's buses. It led to African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, forming the Montgomery Improvement Association. The boycott lasted over a year. In November 1956, the Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses in Alabama unconstitutional.//*The buses used a color section sign. -
The Little Rock 9
The school board in Little Rock, AR won court order to admit African American students to a pre-dominantly white school. An AR governor, Orval Faubus, ordered AR National Guard troops to prevent the nine students from entering school. An angry white mob joined them. Eisenhower sent troops to finally let them in. // *Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine, worked for President Jimmy Carter as Assistant Secretary of Labor. -
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was intended to protect the voting rights of African Americans. When Eisenhower proposed the idea, he knew Southern Democrats would oppose and sent the bill to Congress in 1956 to convince people to go Republican. Democrat Lyndon Johnson created a compromise leading to the Act passing. The Act brought Civil Rights into court and Dept. of Justice. 2million AA voters were registered. //* The Act created the Civil Rights Commision, which protected voting rights. -
The Sit-in Movement
Joseph McNell, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, and Franklin McCain were four African American college freshman who conducted a sit-in at a whites only lunch counter. They were denied any service but vowed to stay until they were served. The sit-in grew in numbers, never fighting back even if attacked.The event caught attention and created the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.//*Students participating in sit-ins had a "do's" and "don'ts" list which stated not to be violent or talk back. -
The Freedom Riders
African Americans and white volunteers came together to intergrate bus service in the South. The teams became known as the Freedom Riders. The first Freedom Ride resulted in angry white mobs. They attacked them, arrested them, and damaged the buses, going as far as throwing a firebomb. Attacks on the 'Freedom Riders have been related to the KKK and police. President John F. Kennedy wanted to keep the violence under control. //*When the firebomb was thrown, fortunately no one was killed. -
James Meredith and the Desegregation of the University of Mississippi
James Meredith was an African American veteran who applied to transfer to the University of Mississippi. When he tried to register, the governor, Ross Barnett, refused to allow it. Up until now, the school had not followed desegregating education. President Kennedy sent marshals to escort Meredith to school. However, angry white mobs attacked.Kennedy needed to send the army with Meredith for more secure protection.//*Meredith wrote a book called "Three Years in Mississippi" about his experience. -
Protests in Birmingham
Martin Luther King launched demostrations in Birmingham, Alabama fighting for a civil rights law. He knew violence would occur and wanted to capture support from President Kennedy. King was arrested by Bull Connor. While in jail, he wrote on paper, the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in defense of non-violent protests such as his. Connor became more brutal to protesters and Kennedy set out for a new civil rights bill. //*These protests are nickamed Project C or the Birmingham Campaign. -
The March on Washington
The March on Washington built up public support for Kennedy's civil rights bill to go through Congress. The march was suggested by A. Philip randolph and backed up by Martin Luther King. On the day of the march, people of all races gathered near the Lincoln Memorial. King gave a speech about equality in America. The bill had more support but was still hesitant by Congress. //* King's speech is often known as the "I have a dream speech" but was originally named the "Normalcy-Never Again." -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed by President Johnson. After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson worked to fulfill his program and was able to get movement in Congress. The Act itself gave the federal government power to prevent racial discrimination in different aspects. Public areas were open to all races including schools. The Civil Rights Act also lead to the creation of the Equal Employment Oppotunity Commission, banning job discrimination. //*Martin Luther King attended the signing. -
The Selma March
Martin Luther King and the SCLC started their campaign for equal voting rights in Selma, Alabama. Sheriff Jim Clark terrorized and arrested African Americans to prevent them from registering to vote. King joined the SNCC in marching from Selma to Montgomery. Clark attacked the marchers severely, known as "Bloody Sunday." The attack was filmed on television. //*There was a bridge separating whites and blacks in Selma. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
After the Selma March, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, authorized that federal examiners registered qualified voters instead of local officers. It banned discriminatory devices in the voting process as well, such as a literacy test. The Civil Rights Movement achieved its goal of desegregation and stopping discrimination. The movement then focused on equality in socially and economically. //*The Act had "general provisions" and "special provisions." -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on his hotel balcony in Memphis Tennessee by a sniper. He was supposed to support a strike there for workers. King wanted to help impoverished African Americans. On the day of his wake, Congress passed he Civil Rights Act of 1968 which had a fair-housing provision. King was an essential being to the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement. //* Johnson ordered a national day of mourning three days after his death.
