Civil Society Protest in the USA (1950s - 1970s)

Introduction

• Topic: Civil society protest in the USA from 1950s to 1970s
• Focus: Civil rights movement in America, specifically in states like Arkansas, Mississippi, Montgomery

Exam Guidelines

• Time frame: 1950s to 1970s
• Focus Questions:
  • Reasons and origins of the civil rights movement in the USA
  • Role, impact, and influence of Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Forms of protest: civil disobedience, Montgomery Bus Boycott, sit-ins, marches (Washington, Birmingham, Selma)
  • School segregation (not focused on)
  • Short and long term gains

Background

• Segregation divided America; the Jim Crow laws enforced racial separation in the South
• Discrimination in schools, hospitals, transportation, restaurants
• Segregation was both by law (de jure) and by practice (de facto)
• Notable case: Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) - "separate but equal"

Reasons and Origins

• African-Americans hoped for change post-WWII
• Frustration with the federal and state governments’ lack of action on desegregation
• Anger over white resistance and ongoing violence in southern states

Martin Luther King Jr.

• 26-year-old Baptist minister, emerged as a leader during Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Advocated non-violence, influenced by Gandhi
• Charismatic leader with a large following

Forms of Protest

Montgomery Bus Boycott

• Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat, sparking a year-long boycott
• Boycott resulted in a Supreme Court ruling against segregation in buses
• Leadership by Martin Luther King Jr. and other religious figures

Sit-ins

• Initiated by students in Greensboro at a segregated lunch counter
• Spread to 11 cities with 50,000 participants
• Non-violent protest inspired by King and Gandhi

Freedom Rides

• Interracial group traveled to challenge segregation on buses
• Faced violence, buses burned, riders attacked
• Led to federal protection and banning of segregation in interstate travel

Birmingham Campaign

• Protest to desegregate Birmingham’s downtown businesses
• Use of children in protests, faced violent police response
• Resulted in national attention and desegregation agreements

March on Washington

• Organized by Philip Randolph, demanded jobs and freedom
• Largest peaceful demonstration in US history
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
• Resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Selma to Montgomery March

• Protest for voting rights, faced police violence on "Bloody Sunday"
• Resulted in Voting Rights Act of 1965

Achievements

• Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Interracial marriages legalized
• Fair Housing Act removed barriers
• Education equality ensured
• Non-violence led to legal changes granting equality

Evaluation

• Short-term and long-term gains assessed
• Continued discrimination despite legal changes
• Emergence of more militant approaches like "Black Power"
• Importance of evaluating the worth and outcomes of protests

Conclusion

• Topic encompasses significant civil rights protests led by Martin Luther King Jr.
• Understanding past protests is crucial as similar issues persist today.