In depth, chronological notes covering the Civil Society Protest (in America) section of the IEB History matric syllabus - according to the Subject Assessment Guidelines Document.
- Civil Rights Movement
- Black Power Movement
- Black Panther Party
- Women's Movement in America
- Women's Movemen...
What are civil rights?
Civil rights are the rights that are (or should be) enjoyed by all
citizens of a country. They revolve around the basic freedoms
that people should have in order to enjoy their daily lives
without interference
These rights have been summarised into “the four freedoms”:
o Freedom of speech (which includes freedom of the press)
o Freedom of worship (to practice the religion of your
choice)
o Freedom from want (basic needs such as water, food,
shelter and clothing)
o Freedom from fear (of being under attack or being
threatened)
Two more of these “freedoms” could be added:
o Freedom of assembly (the right to gather to discuss an
issue or protest against a grievance)
o Freedom to vote (everybody has a say in a democratic
government)
What is civil society?
Civil society is a grouping that is separate from government and
business
o There is always a struggle for control between the state
and the people it governed and it is the function of a civil
society to challenge the power of the state
o The state and civil society stand in opposition to one
another
Civil society includes NGOs (Trade unions, Civic organizations,
Student movements) and social and political movements that
protect civil rights
What are civil society protests?
Civil society protests are about ordinary people standing
together against the state/ government
o In the 1960s, ordinary people engaged in fights to secure
these rights
o Political opposition was no longer left to the political
parties or the elite
, o Popular mass protests were very effective in bringing
about change
This action took place in the form of protest marches,
demonstrations, civil disobediance or strikes
In most cases these protests involve non-violent action
undertaken to put pressure on authorities or influence public
opinion
To what extent did African Americans achieve equality in civil rights
in the 1950s and 1960s?
After the American civil war in the late 1800s, former slaves
believed that freedom was attainable and they would be able to
enter American society as full and equal citizens
Congress passed 3 major amendments to protect these new
freedoms
o The 13th Amendment
Abolished slavery
o The 14th Amendment
Made black Americans full US citizens
They were guarenteed full and equal protection
under the law
o The 15th Amendment
Guarenteed the right to vote
People could not be denied this on account of race,
colour or previous conditions of servitude
Discrimination Against Black Americans
US government policy followed the idea of “separate but equal”
African American were given the right to vote however various
practices prevented them from voting
o Threats of violence, intimidation or lynching
o Excessively difficult literacy tests targeted at African
Americans
Police officers failed to stop attacks on black people
o Police brutality often left black people dead
o In addition white juries often acquitted whites accused of
killing blacks
From the 1880s into the 1960s a majority of American states
enforced segregation and disemfranchisement through “Jim
Crow” laws
, o Marriage
o White people were prohibited from marrying
people of colour
o Harsh punishments for sonsorting with members
of another race
o Enforced Separation
o Buses had separate seating areas, waiting rooms
and ticket windows for whites and people of colour
o Trains had different carts for different races
o Restaurants were required to serve different races
in different rooms
o Toilets were divided by race and then by gender
o Cohabitation
o Any mixed race pair of people, of opposite genders
and who are not married but stay in the same
room, would be imprisoned
o Education
o The schools for white students and students of
colour were to be conducted separately
Why did African Americans challenge discrimination so actively from
the 1960s?
By 1960 a platform had been created from which to launch intense
protest action. Three major factors can be identified to explain this:
Education
o Despite inequality, many African Americans realised the
value of education and many became doctors, lawyers
and teachers
Howard University became an important symbol of
academic success and achievement for black
people
Many of its graduates became leaders in various
fields and provided leadership in challenging
racism in society
Organisation
o African Americans realised that they needed to be
organised in order to fight discrimination
Eg: the NAACP
See later notes
Leadership
, o A number of individuals provided direction and
leadership to the civil rights struggle
o Many of them preached different messages and divisions
arose amongst different supporters
o However they were all united by the common goal to end
discrimination and inequality
Varied Examples of Leadership
Booker T Washington
o A former slave
o Believed that blacks should accept segregation and their
existing conditions but said that they should work
gradually for change
He was criticised for accommodating white racism
WED Du Bois
o Disagreed with Washington
o Believed black people should have access to higher
education
o He helped set up the NAACP and edited the newspaper
“Crisis”
o He believed in activism and especially challenging the law
Marcus Garvey
o He encouraged a sense of “black pride” (the beginning of
“black nationalism”)
o He strongly believed that black people should develop
and celebrate their own separate identity from white
people – especially economically
He helped African Americans set up their own
businesses
He was supported by many working class African
Americans
Martin Luther King Junior
o A minister
o Developed a mass following through his charisma and
ability to reacg the people through hus persuaive
speeches
o His actions personified the “non-violent movement”
The Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement
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