CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950-1968)

Section One: Demands for Civil Rights (p 698-703)

In 1947 __________ joined the __________, becoming the first African American to play major league
baseball. His success fostered pride in African Americans and paved the way for others to follow. (p 698)
After WWII, __________ of people were ready to demand that the country live up to its creed that all are
__________ before the __________. (p 698)
Please explain how each of these factors contributed to the rise of the civil rights movement. (p 698-699)
African
American
Migration

The New Deal

World War II

Amidst these cultural changes, the National __________ for the Advancement of __________ People
(“__________”) worked to challenge __________ laws throughout the country. It tried to overturn the 1896
__________ v. __________ decision that allowed segregation in public places if the facilities were
“__________ but __________.” (p 699)
Their legal defense fund, led by __________, achieved many gains. One lawyer in particular, __________,
succeeded in winning more than __________ in higher pay and better facilities for black students. (p 699)
In 1951, Oliver Brown sued the school board in __________, so his daughter could attend a nearby school for
whites. After many appeals, the case made it to the Supreme Court, with __________ arguing the Brown’s
case. In 1954, in a __________ decision, the Court declared school segregation unconstitutional. (p 699-700)
The public’s reaction to the ruling was __________. While __________ rejoiced, many __________,
especially in the __________, reacted with fear and anger. More than __________ members of Congress issued
a protest known as the __________, asserting the Court exceeded its constitutional authority. The __________
also became more active and threatened those who accepted the Court decision. (p 700-701)
In 1955, the nation’s attention shifted to the streets of __________. In December, __________ a seamstress and
member of the NAACP, refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus when told to do so. She was
__________ and ordered to stand __________ for breaking the law. (p 701)
Civil rights leaders in the city reacted by organizing the __________. They distributed __________ announcing
the plan, which called for blacks to avoid the entire bus system until the company changed its policy. A 26-
year-old minister named __________ became the __________ for the entire protest movement. (p 701)
Over the next year, __________ blacks in the city __________, rode __________, or joined __________ to
avoid the buses. Despite losing money, the company refused to change. Finally, in __________, the Court
ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. (p 701-702)
In 1957, Arkansas Governor __________ declared he could not keep __________ if he enforced __________.
He posted __________ troops at Central High School in __________ to prevent __________ black students
who were supposed to attend that school. President __________ viewed this as a direct __________, so he sent
soldiers to protect the students. (p 702)
Since 1929, the __________ of United __________ American Citizens (“__________”) had been struggling to
achieve equality for __________. The group helped finance a case, __________ v. __________, that made
segregation of __________ children in __________ illegal. (p 703)
In 1953, the federal government adopted a policy known as __________ which sought to eliminate __________
and assimilate __________ into mainstream American life. The policy was eventually reversed. (p 703)
Section Two: Leaders and Strategies (p 704-708)
Please complete the following graphic organizer detailing several civil rights groups. (p 704-708)
Significance
Group Purpose or Focus
Leaders
Founded
Year

National
Group

NAACP

League
Urban

CORE

SNCC
SCLC
 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950-1968)

Section Two: Leaders and Strategies (p 704-708) (continued)

Profile of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. (p 706-707)

Born in __________, Georgia, in __________, King experienced segregation daily. His father and grandfather
were both prominent __________. He graduated from __________ College in Atlanta and then __________
Theological Seminary in __________. He ultimately earned a doctorate in __________ from __________
University in __________. There he met and married __________.

As he became more involved in the civil rights movement, he was influenced by the beliefs of __________.
They shared a philosophy of __________ as the only way to achieve victory over __________. Those who
fight for __________ must peacefully refuse to obey __________. This philosophy resembled American author
__________’s example in advocating __________.

As a result of his role in the __________, King gained national prominence and played a key role in almost
every civil rights event, including the March on Washington in 1963. He received the __________ in 1964.

He was assassinated in __________ in 1968. His killer, __________, was convicted and died in jail.

Section Three: The Struggle Intensifies (p 709-714)

What were “sit-ins” and why were they effective? ________________________________________(p 709-710)

In 1960, the Supreme Court expanded its earlier ban on segregation of __________. The following year, SNCC
and CORE organized the __________ to test southern compliance with that decision. The first participants
encountered violence in __________, where their bus was burned and they were beaten. Their journey ended
with arrest in __________, but about __________ continued the protest. Attorney General __________ sent
__________ for protection and then pushed for desegregation of all __________. (710-712)

In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that __________, an African American Air Force Veteran, should be allowed
to transfer to the all-white __________. Governor __________, however, personally blocked him from the
admissions office. President __________ then sent __________ to enforce the decision, which caused riots that
required __________ to restore order. (p 712)

In 1963, Reverend __________ invited MLK and the SCLC to visit __________, which king described as “the
most __________ city in America.” They started with nonviolent protest __________ and __________. City
officials declared them illegal because they did not have a __________ and obtained a __________ ordering
them to cease. King disobeyed the order and was arrested by police commissioner __________. (p 713)

After more than a week, King was __________. He then decided to let __________ join the campaign. More
than __________ of them were arrested. Police used __________ and trained __________ against them, and
when they fell to the ground, police __________ them before taking them to __________. (p 714)

Even those __________ to the civil rights movement were __________. In the end, the __________ won as a
committee was arranged to __________ city facilities. (p 714)
 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950-1968) Section Four: The Political Response (p 716-
721)

As a senator from Massachusetts, __________ had voted for civil rights without actively pushing the issue.
During his presidential campaign, however, he won many __________ with bold __________. Once in office,
though, he moved slowly on issues such as __________ so as to not offend __________. He did appoint many
blacks to prominent positions, including __________ as a Circuit Judge. (p 716)
He was deeply disturbed by scenes of racial violence and embarrassed by them when he met with __________
leader __________. He responded to __________ in a televised speech, but hours later __________, an
__________ worker, was murdered. The killer, __________, remained unpunished until __________. (p 717)
After this crisis, Kennedy introduced a strong __________ designed to prohibit __________ in all __________,
ban __________ wherever __________ was involved, and advance __________. Opponents prevented the bill
from coming up for a vote. (p 717)
To focus attention and build support for the bill, __________ proposed a march on __________. Kennedy
feared it would alienate __________ and cause __________, but he ultimately embraced the proposal. The
march occurred in __________ and included more than __________ people. Some famous marchers were:
____________________________________________________________________________________(p 717)
Three months after the march, __________ was assassinated and the bill had not advanced. President
__________ was eager to use his skills to pass the bill, which he mentioned in his __________. As
__________ he had previously passed a civil rights bill in __________, and he let Congress know he would
accept no __________. Although Senate opponents delayed passage by engaging in a __________, the bill
ultimately passed. (p 719)
(p 719)
Please summarize the major impacts of this bill.
Major Provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Title I
Title II
Title VI
Title VII

In 1964, civil rights leaders organized a __________ in __________. About 1,000 volunteers, most of whom
were __________, joined in the drive. There were several murders, about __________ mob attacks, and about
__________ arrests. This period came to be called __________. (p 720)
Some Mississippians organized the __________ and sent delegates to the 1964 __________ National
Convention, but they were rejected after an attempt at compromise by __________.
To help many still struggling for voting rights, __________ and other leaders decided to organize a march from
__________ to the state capital of __________ nearly __________ miles away. __________ on horseback
charged into the crowd, shocking many people across the nation. __________ put the __________ under
federal control and sent __________ and __________ to protect the march. By its end, about __________
participated. (p 721)
In response to this march, __________ promised a strong new law to protect __________. The __________
allowed federal officials to __________ voters in discriminating areas. It also effectively ended __________
and other voting barriers. This helped more than __________ African Americans get registered to vote. (p 721)
Ratification of the __________ Amendment, which eliminated the __________, also helped many poor people
to exercise their right to vote. (p 721)
 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1950-1968)

Section Five: The Movement Takes a New Turn (p 722-727)

Outside the __________ civil rights movement, more __________ and __________ leaders emerged. The most
famous of these was __________, born __________ in 1925. His father, a minister who preached the
__________ message of __________, died young, leaving the family to live in __________. He was arrested
for __________ and served __________ years in jail. (p 722)

While in jail he joined the __________, a group often called the __________. Led by __________, they
preached __________ and identified their enemy as __________. The embraced the concept of __________, a
belief in the separate __________ and __________ of African Americans. (p 722-723)

Malcolm X ridiculed other civil rights leaders, and instead of preaching __________, he rejected ideas of
__________. In 1964 he left the __________ to found his own organization, __________. He also made a
__________ to __________ in __________. This experience supposedly changed his views, so when he
returned he was ready to work with other civil rights leaders and even __________ on some issues. In
__________, however, he was murdered at a rally in New York. (p 723)

One leader of SNCC who adopted Malcolm’s message was __________. As he rose in leadership the group
became more __________. He called on SNCC workers to carry __________ and wanted to reject __________
from membership. He popularized the idea of __________. (p 724)

In the fall of __________, a new militant political party, the __________ was formed by activists __________
and __________. They were inspired by the words of __________ and believed that “power flows from the
__________.” Their followers often found themselves in __________. (p 724)

The civil rights movement succeeded in repealing __________, but had more difficulty in addressing
__________. The former separation resulted from the force of __________ while the latter resulted from
__________ such as poverty. (p 725)

In 1964, race riots occurred in __________, __________, and several cities in __________. In 1965, one of the
most violent riots occurred in __________ and lasted for __________. By the time the __________ and
__________ finally gained control, __________ had died and __________ were injured. Violence spread to
other cities in __________ and __________. The federal government responded by establishing the
__________, also known as the __________. (p 725)

In 1968, __________ turned his attention to __________ in what he called the __________. He began planning
another __________ and travelled the country seeking support. At a stop in __________ to support
__________, he was assassinated. African Americans then rioted in more than __________ cities, as a result of
which nearly __________ died. It took more than __________ troops to stop the violence. (p 725-726)

On March 16, 1968, __________ decided to enter the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and his
chances improved when __________ announced he would not seek the nomination. In June, while
campaigning in __________, __________ was assassinated. (p 727)

The movement yielded many victories. __________ was illegal, and thousands of African Americans were able
to __________. Between 1970 and 1975, the number of African American officeholders climbed by
__________. (p 727)