Civil Rights

US History 11

Reactions to Communism

The House Un-American Activities Committee – 1947– An investigative committee of the House of

Representatives which served to investigate the possibility of Communists living in the United States.

– It was originally created to seek out Nazi sympathizers.

Reactions to Communism

Smith Act – 1940– Made it a criminal offense in the United States

to teach people to want to overthrow the government.

– The goal was to prevent deception and possible Communist activity aimed at taking over the US government.

Reactions to Communism

Loyalty Review Board – March 1947– An executive order from President Harry S.

Truman which was aimed at rooting out Communist activity in the US government.

– Of the 3 million government employees investigated by the board, just over 300 were fired for being security risks.

Reactions to Communism

Spying: Alger Hiss and Rosenbergs: 1948-1950– Alger Hiss was involved in the creation of the

UN, and was later accused of being a Soviet spy. He was convicted of perjury in 1950.

– The Rosenbergs were Jewish American Communists who were executed in 1953 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage.

Reactions to Communism

McCarthyism – 1950’s– US Senator Joseph

McCarthy sought out Communists in the US government.

– He is famous for accusing thousands of Americans of being Communist – including movie stars and musicians.

Reactions to Communism

The Crucible by Arthur Miller – 1950s:– Written in reaction to

McCarthyism and the blacklisting of Americans thought to be Communists

Brown v. Board of Education

1954Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson Established that separate but equal was

not, in fact, equalThis case paved the way for integration

and the Civil Rights movement

Little Rock 9

Nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957

They were prevented from attending the school by the Governor of Arkansas until President Eisenhower stepped in

University of Alabama

Governor George Wallace protested the enrollment of two African American students at the school in 1963 by performing his infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door”

JFK called for the integration of the school

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

December 1, 1955– Rosa Parks (Seamstress and NAACP officer)

took a seat in the front row of the “colored” section of a Montgomery bus.

– She refused to get up for a white person when the “white” section of the bus was filled

– She was arrested and a boycott followed– Pastor Martin Luther King Jr. was put in

charge of the Montgomery Improvement Association which ran the boycott

NAACP

Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination".

Created in 1909 by WEB DuBois

CORE

Congress of Racial Equality: Founded in 1942

CORE members aim to promote racial equality

CORE uses nonviolence in their efforts to promote civil rights

SCLC

Southern Christian Leadership ConferenceMartin Luther King Jr. acted as the first

president of the SCLCGrew out of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Martin Luther King Jr.

1929-1968Clergyman (pastor) and Civil Rights

activistBelieved in non-violence and civil

disobedienceCalled his peaceful approach to protesting

“soul force” Assassinated in 1968 on the balcony of his

hotel in Memphis

Nation of Islam

Formed in 1930 by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad

The Nation’s teachings were followed by Malcom Little (Malcom X) while in prison

Followed the teachings that whites caused the black condition and that blacks should separate from white society

Malcom X

1925-1965Went to jail at age 20

for burglary where he studied the teachings of the Nation of Islam

Malcom X’s message appealed to many African Americans who were becoming increasingly proud of their racial pride

Civil Rights Act of 1957

Primarily a voting rights bill Introduced by Dwight D.

Eisenhower Lyndon Johnson was able to

get the bill passed after Strom Thurmond’s filibuster (which lasted for over 24 hours and included readings from the Declaration of Independence and phone books).

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, and gender.

Gave all citizens the right to enter libraries, parks, washrooms, restaurants, theaters, and other public accommodations.

Passed under President Johnson (after President Kennedy was assassinated).

24th Amendment - 1964

The amendment which made it illegal to impede the right to vote based on failure to pay a tax (poll tax or other tax).

Voting Rights Act of 1964

Again, made it illegal to discriminate the right to vote based on race or color

This act echoed the sentiment of which Amendment to the Constitution?

Cesar Chavez

Formed the National Farm Workers Association because he felt that farm workers had the right to unionize

The NFWA later joined with another group to become the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee

American Indian Movement

Many young Native Americans were dissatisfied with the pace of progress toward reform and they formed an often militant defense group

Betty Friedan

Author of The Feminine Mystique about the dissatisfaction of many American women during the 1950’s

Equal Rights Amendment - 1972

Passed in 1972 by CongressWould guarantee equal rights to men and

women under the law The ERA was not passed by enough states

(38) to become law and was defeatedMuch of the dissent for the law came from

the new “pro-family” movement called the New Right

National Organization of Women (1966)

Founded by Betty Friedan (and others) in 1966 as an organization to look at and fight against discrimination of women

Title IX of Educational Amendments Act - 1972

States that no person can be discriminated against based on their sex in any education program or activity receiving federal funding

One of the biggest impacts of Title IX was the inclusion of more girls sports in schools

Warren Court

US Supreme Court from 1953-1969 while Earl Warren was Chief Justice

Under the Warren Court many changes were made in the judicial power and philosophy of the American judiciary