The document summarizes key events and movements in the African American fight for civil rights from the Civil War to the present. It discusses the founding of the NAACP in 1909 and important protests like the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It also outlines influential Supreme Court cases and executive orders that overturned racial segregation and extended voting rights, citizenship, and equal protection under the law to African Americans. The document traces the progression of civil rights through nonviolent protest, legislative action, and judicial rulings.
2. AFRICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT(CIVIL WAR – PRESENT) Legal equality for African Americans was brought about through … Civil Rights Protest Executive Branch Ruling Supreme Court Decisions
4. PROTESTS National Association for Advancement of Colored People=NAACP Oldest, largest and most widely recognized civil rights group. Founded Feb. 12 1909. Peaceful protests are one of the largest factors of HOW African American’s received their rights.
5. BUS BOYCOTTS & SIT INNS Dec. 1st 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up bus seat Said to be the beginning of modern civil rights movement Bus boycott of Montgomery Alabama. Lasted 11 months Supreme Court then outlawed segregation on public transport Aug. 19, 1958 Mrs. Lupa and her students started the peacful sit-ins at a Oaklahoma City drug store Sit-ins known for the difference they made in greensburro, NC They were an effort to end segregation in restraunts. The “Blacks” sat peacfully at the “white” counter
6. PROTEST LEADERS Martin Luther King Jr. Leader of Montgomery Improvement Association Believed in peaceful protests April 16th, 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Aug. 28th, 1963 Lincoln Memorial “I have a dream” speech Malcom“X” A minister for the “islam nation” Believed that non violent protest was pointless Told his followers to defend themselves “by any means necessary” Constantly spoke against MLK Jr.
7. BLOODY SUNDAY March 7th 1965 March to Polls stopped at Pettus Bridge by police blockade 50 people were hospitalized by tear gas, whips, and clubs The event that really made the difference Not to be mistaken with many other historical events with the same name First of three marches to Montogomery AL from Selma, AL. The only succeeding one was on March 21 Not to be mistaken with many other historical events with the same name
9. Emancipation Proclamation “And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are, and henceforward shall be, free; and that the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.” On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln declared to free all slaves residing in territory in rebellion against the federal government. Only applied to states separate from the Union and not in the border states. Clarified the Civil War was now being fought to end slavery. Did not completely end slavery, but made Americans come to a realization and changed the war. Accepted black men into the Union Army and Navy.
10. 13th Amendment “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Formally abolished slavery in the United States Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 Ratified on December 6, 1865
11. 14th Amendment "[A foreigner in the United States] has a right to the protection of the laws; but he is not a citizen in the ordinary acceptance of the word..." "Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States.” Granted citizenship to “All persons born or naturalized in the United States,” thereby allowing citizenship to former slaves. Tried reconstructing between the struggle of black and white citizens to enforce the 14th amendment. Executive branch attempted to enforce measures that would guard all citizens’ rights. Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868. Designed to grant citizenship to and protect the civil liberties of recently freed slaves. Prohibited states from denying or abridging the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, depriving any person of his life, liberty, or property without due process of law, or denying to any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
12. 15th Amendment Passed by Congress February 26, 1869, and ratified February 3, 1870. Granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The struggle for equality that continued for more than a century before African Americans could begin to participate fully in American public and civic life.
13. President Truman Appoints Committee on Civil Rights Orders Desegregation of Military December 5, 1946 Created the President’s Committee on Civil Rights Committee would “inquire into and determine whether and in what respect current law enforcement measures…may be strengthened and improved to safeguard the civil rights of the people.” Also authorized it to make “recommendations with respect to…more adequate and effective means and procedures for the protection of civil rights.” Helped arouse public awareness of racism as a national problem. Provided more than 25,000 copies of To Secure These Rights to the press. President called To Secure These Rights “an American charter of human freedom…[and] a guide for action.” July 26, 1948 Established President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services Determined to end military segregation Executive Order No. 9981 stated, "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."
15. Supreme Court cases Civil war-1950s 1857: Dred Scott vs. Sanford Dred Scott was a slave taken from a slave state to a free territory Scott filed a lawsuit claiming that because he lived on free soil he was entitled to his freedom Allowed slavery in the territories Intensified the national debate over slavery The Chief Justice, Roger B. Taney, ruled that blacks were not citizens and could not sue in federal court(he said that Congress had no right to ban slavery from U.S. territories) The declared opinion of the Supreme Court fanned the flames of slavery controversy leading up to the Civil War 4 years later 1873: slaughterhouse cases (undermine the Civil Rights Act of 1866) Originally had nothing to do with the rights of freed slaves although it was on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment Brought to court by a group of white business men They were arguing the constitutionality of a 1869 Louisiana statute that granted exclusive rights to the Crescent City Livestock Landing & Slaughterhouse Company to do business (because it had bribed the State Legislature) “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
16. 1909 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) established Got involved in the Supreme Court especially after World War II Hired a black lawyer named Charles Houston to the counsel to implement legal strategy in the Supreme Court for desegregation Focused their strategy on educ- ation 1896: Plessy vs. Ferguson Plessy was a 7/8 black man who attempted to sit in an all white railroad car who was arrested after refusing to move to the colored car Justice Ferguson defended the constitutionality of racial segregation and paved the way for the Jim Crow laws of the South Encouraged passage of discriminatory laws that wiped out gains during Reconstruction Lead to segregation of streetcars, public waiting rooms, restaurants, boarding houses, theatres, public parks, schools, hospitals, all other public institutions Asserted “separate but equal accommodations” for blacks on railroad cars did not violate “equal protection under the laws” clause from Amendment 14
20. 1954: In Brown v. Board of Education, Problem: The doctrine ‘separate but equal’ was not equal. Segregation caused discrimination Supreme Court Action: Decided that segregation went against the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. Effect: Paved the way for integration 1955: In Brown v. Board II, Problem: Schools were not acting with the decision of Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Action: They started giving specific direction on how to implement the Brown v. Board decision. And insisted that it be done “with all deliberate speed.” Effect: District courts started letting schools come up with ways to get out of integration by creating all white academies, and expensive private schools.
21. 1956 Problem: Montgomery bus system was segregated. Supreme Court Action:declared without comment in a lower court case thattheMontgomery bus system was illegal Effect: Gave a major victory to Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the thousands of anonymous African Americans who had sustained the bus boycott in the face of violence and intimidation.
22. 1958: Cooper v. Aaron, Problem: official resistance and community violence justified delays in implementing desegregation efforts. Supreme Court Action: Made sure that official resistance and community violence did NOT justify delays of implementing desegregation. Effect: Desegregation was being implemented in areas that were formally resisting. 1968:Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co., Problem: Racism in private, governmental housing providers. Supreme Court Action: The Court held that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 bans racial discrimination in housing. Effect: Desegregated neighborhoods.
23. 1971: In Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Problem: wasn’t appropriate to pass laws for desegregation for buses because that may or may not be infringing on private enterprises. Supreme Court Action: the Court ruled busing was an appropriate legal tool for addressing illegal segregation of the schools. Effect: Bus desegregation became a huge tool in the civil rights movement.
24. 1971: In Griggs v. Duke Power Co. PROBLEM: African American applicants for jobs at the Duke Power Company were prohibited when the tests were not shown to be job-related. Supreme Court Action: the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits not only intentional job discrimination, but also employer practices that have a discriminatory effect on minorities and women Effect: Desegregation in the workplace began to become more common.
25. Conclusion Civil rights and eqaulity is a continuing endeavor and we have the obligation to support to integration of all of God’s children. he ainviteth them ball to ccome unto him and partake of his goodness; and he ddenieth none that come unto him, black and white, ebond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the fheathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTShttp://www.trumanlibrary.org/anniversaries/desegblurb.htmhttp://theomahaproject.org/module_display.php?mod_id=48&review=yes