This CRM summary document contains every event and date from beginning to end as well as quotes and more. This document is colorful and ideal for Final and Prelim preparation.
Reasons and Origins
African Americans freed from slavery during the Civil War.
New laws passed – voting rights.
Rights gradually withdrawn when conservative whites regained political control. (Southern States)
Many states – “Black Codes” ensured Blacks couldn’t have equal rights.
“Jim Crowe Laws” ensured segregation.
KKK PREVENTING DESEGREGATION
KKK set up in Tennessee & spread through the Southern States
Objective – prevent voting of blacks.
Vicious methods of preventions.
Violent attacks on African American homes.
1890-1900 – Average of 175 black Americans hung each year the South.
PLESSY VS FERGUSON
1986 – Right for states to insist separate facilities in the Supreme Court in the ‘Plessy vs Ferguson’
judgement.
Court ruled it legal and constitutional. (separate but equal)
1909 NACCP founded to promote black equality.
Peaceful methods – legal challenges, speeches, demonstrations.
No success.
CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY
1942 – Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) founded.
Planned to change racist attitudes and end segregation – passive resistance.
WW2 had a major influence on black servicemen.
Came back to the US wanting equality.
1950s – establishment of US Civil Rights movement.
Provide black Americans with a strategy to fight their constitutional & civil rights.
Aimed to achieve qual rights where equally protected by the law.
, MARTING LUTHER KING JR.
Born in Atlanta Georgia
Decided to follow his father into the ministery.
1954 – Pastor at the Dexter Ave. Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
Various protests & campaigns of the NAACP & CORE had already challenged the Jim Crow laws.
Chirstian church was not central to these campaigns.
NAACP leaders included white Americans – CORE focused on white uni students.
KING CHANGED ALL OF THIS – STRENGTHENED HIS ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE MOVEMENT.
MLK’S ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
When the King family moved to Montgomery the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
decision was made.
Galvanised the struggle for civil rights in the USA,
Epicentre – Montgomery (highly segregated)
King was ideally positioned to take on a leading role in this struggle.
Position as pastor – ability to see the black suffering.
Platform to speak out against this injustice.
Leadership role affirmed when he lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Role increased – national spotlight – organised non-violent resistance.
Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
Landmark decision of the U.S Supreme Court – ruled that the U.S state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are
unconstitutional.
FORMATION OF THE SCLC
1957 – success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott – Founded the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Planned to keep the spirit of the boycott alive.
Committed – full equality for African Americans through non-violence.
MLK
Remailed the leader until his death.
Travelled giving lectures on non-violent protest and civil rights.
Met with religious figures, activists, and political leaders.
MLK – LEADING ROLE
1960 – King moved to Atlanta where he played a role in the leadership of the CRM.
1963 – headed the Birmingham Campaign.
1964 – Organised and led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
1965 – Led the march from Selma to Montgomery (Resulted in the Congress passing the Voting Rights Act. Which
guaranteed all African Americans the right to vote.
IMPACT OF MLK JR. ON THE CRM
King – vital leader for the US Civil Rights Movement.
, Not prepared to be a figurehead.
Led by example and was arrested many times.
Brilliant public speaker.
Speeches focused on injustice, prejudice, protest and action.
King became a unifying force in struggle for civil rights
Drew them together into a broad-based CRM due to:
Position as pastor – influence and authority
Charismatic personality.
Strong leadership qualities.
Impact of MLK was enormous.
CRM = co-ordinated & focused.
Drew attention to the situation facing African Americans.
INFLUENCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
Non-violent approach & wisdom were very influential in winning support from various groups:
- Broad spectrum of Americans.
- President Lyndon Johnson
Broad-based support enabled King and the CRM to achieve many of their aims.
- Civil Right of 1964.
- Voting Rights Act of 1965
King also had influence on other critical issues
- Vietnam War
- Poverty among all American races.
- 1967 King and SCLC – Poor Peoples Campaign.
King’s non-violent approach led to the development of militant black groups – BLACK PANTHERS
- Rift developed between King and the young radicals that rejected his non-violent methods.
THE INFLUENCE OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE IN MLK
King became involved with the writings of Ghandi through his mentor – Howard Thurman.
During a trip to India [1959] King met Ghandi who had a great influence on his views.
- Philosophy – non-violent resistance, or civil disobedience.
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