This summary is from the IEB syllabus for Paper 2 History. In this paper candidates are required to have some knowledge on the topic in order to apply that knowledge and answer questions on the sources.Civil Society protests in 1950s -1970s is a long and difficult chapter that I have managed to su...
Shira Woolf History Source Based Summary – Civil Society Protests 1
CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS 1950s -1970s
Response to anger and dissatisfaction due to WW2 (1945) where people fought freedom from
oppression
People had growing dissatisfaction, discontent + anger àwanted equality à protest against racial
inequality
GROUP AIM ACTION
1. Black people Freedom, equality, no Civil rights movement
segregation
2. Students Anti-war, peace Protests
3. Women Liberation, equality Marches
BACKGROUND OF CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS IN USA
Mainly: southern America à history of black people: slaves on cotton plantation à no equality after
civil war
1983: Slavery Abolished à still racial seg. / No right to vote
White slave gov in south refused Federal Gov laws à came up with Jim Crow laws = ‘separate but
equal’
• Ku Klux Klan lynching sparked CRM
BLACK PEOPLE
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: SCHOOL DESEGREGATION 1957
1954: court ruled segregation in education = unfair
1957: ‘Little Rock Nine’ were protested + prevented from entering school à no protection from
police
President sent groups to protect
à highlight inequality in schools
Result: black people took a stand: resulted laws being past to end the discrimination
MARTIN LUTHER KING J.R: CRM IN USA
Adapted pacifist idea à from success of Gandhi and his non- violent protest
1957: SCLC was started
BELIEFS ROLE IMPACT/INFLUENCE
Power of mass nonviolence Raise social issues Role model
Power of love Effective orator Unified + equality
Ultimate integration Took initiative Multiracial society
(multiracial)
Attract attention Maintain peace Approached president for
support
Pressure to change laws Prepared to suffer for his Lobbies congress à to
beliefs influence legislation. action
28 AUGUST 1963: ‘I HAVE A DREAM’
Called for civil + economic rights + end racism
IMPACT: helped create civil rights act of 1964 + Voting rights act of 1965
à end racial eg. In the USA
1955: BUS BOYCOTTS
Rosa Parks helped desegregate busses à her and MLK were arrested à bus segregation =
unconstitutional
, Shira Woolf History Source Based Summary – Civil Society Protests 2
1960: SIT INS
SNCC protested against white only facilities à arrested à desegregation
1961: FREEDOM RIDERS
CORE wanted to get the media’s attention à there was opposition from the KKK à interstate travel
desegregated
1963:
APRIL: BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA MARCH (CENTRE OF WHITE OPPOSITION TO CRM)
SCLC wanted more job opportunities à authorities had a violent reaction, used police dogs/ water
cannons à there was major media cover and exposure in the press
AUGUST: LINCOLN MEMORIAL. ‘I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH’
MLK J.r. + millions attended in hope of achieving jobs, civil rights and equality à authorities were
peaceful à solidarity widely publicised, increased sympathy, king won Nobel peace prize
SHORT TERM GAINS: JFK = Civil Rights Bill (job opportunities, black votes, discrimination banned)
1964:
CORE + SNCC + NAACP:
1. FREEDOM SUMMER CAMPAGIN: Educate black people to vote, 30 schools in south open à
KKK targeted: 3 CRM workers murdered
2. King travelled USA to inspire & create
2 JULY 1964: LBJ SIGNED CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
1965:
MONTGOMERY ALABAMA MARCH
MLK Jr. protested delays in registered black voters + attention to persecution of black people in
Alabama à authorities stalled attempts to register black voters and protesters attacked back violently
(Black Sunday) à international coverage + National Voting Rights Act signed
Race riots à 30 killed, Malcom X murdered
1967:
1. Thurgood Marshall (first black judge) appointed in supreme court
2. Inter-racial marriage = legal
3. King criticised Vietnam war
1968:
1. King assassinated
2. Second Civil Rights Act passed à Multiracial society + equality
Theory: no discrimination allowed
Practice: social + economic life remained unchanged ☹
LONG TERMS GAINS OF CRM
• Showed success of non-violence
• Attention of media à publicised violence
• Sympathy + support
• Respect from many whites
BLACK POWER MOVEMENT
More extreme than CRM as it advocated militant (assertive) approach to achieve their goals
à promote black solidarity, self-esteem, pride, challenge white supremacy, no longer use ‘N’ word
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller shirawoolf. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.48. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
