Lesson 13 Civil Rights

Today’s class Civil Rights Movement (African-Americans) What are Civil Rights? How were they achieved? What problems still exist? Women’s movement Important moments in women’s rights Are women equal in today’s society?

What we’ve discussed so far… The beginning of the United States Colonization (Settling the new land) Revolution – Declaration of Independence New government – The Constitution The nation grows Monroe Doctrine – The U.S. gains control in the continent People move west

Differences in America The issue of slavery The Northern and Southern economies are very different North – Industry – Large Cities – Paid Labor South – Agriculture – Smaller Cities – Slave Labor Social and political differences lead to the Civil War The North wins The Emancipation Proclamation “frees” the slaves WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

After the Civil War We call the period after the Civil War the Reconstruction Era (p. 84) The government wanted to: Rebuild the political system in the South Rebuild the economy During this early period, many black people were able to participate in the government

Reconstruction During this period, the southern states were under military control This was meant to protect the rights of the newly freed African-Americans The U.S. government added 3 changes to the Constitution 13 th Amendment – Ended slavery 14 th Amendment – Citizenship given to blacks 15 th Amendment – Right of blacks to vote (men)

Racist Groups Racist groups such as the White League and the Ku Klux Klan were started against blacks Lynching Tar and feathering Whites gained control of southern governments by intimidating black voters The White League as well as the Red Shirts killed many blacks and they were scared to vote

Ku Klux Klan A terrorist group against African-Americans

Jim Crow Laws Laws that segregated (separated) blacks and whites

Segregation Laws 1896 – Jim Crow Laws were declared legal “ separate but equal” The laws could be used as long as there were facilities for both blacks and whites Examples: restaurants, bathrooms, schools, etc.

Jim Crow Laws These laws prevented poor and illiterate people from voting Poll tax – a tax must be paid to vote Kept many poor people from voting Literacy requirements You must be able to read and write to vote These methods were used to keep blacks from voting and helped whites regain control of the state governments

Civil Rights Movement 1954 – The Supreme Court rules that segregated schools are unconstitutional

p. 123 1957 – Little Rock, Arkansas 9 black students were admitted to an all-white school Whites protested and the military was called in to get the students into the school It was a difficult transition, but most schools were integrated by the mid-1960s

Rosa Parks (p. 124) 1955 – Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man A boycott is lead by Martin Luther King Jr. After a year, the transportation system is desegregated

“ I Have a Dream” 1963 – March on Washington Around 300,000 protesters march to the Lincoln Memorial and listen to Martin Luther King’s speech

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in non-violent protests. “ civil disobedience” An active refusal to obey unfair laws Rosa Parks is a good example Sit-ins – protesters remain in a place until they are forcefully removed Example: blacks used this method in white restaurants They would “sit-in” the restaurant until police made them leave King was an important figure in the Civil Rights movement King was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize He was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee

Changes 1964 – The poll tax is ended 1964 – Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origins 1965 – Voting Rights Act made it easier for blacks to vote 1968 – Civil Rights Act of 1968 prevents discrimination in the sale, rental and purchasing of housing

“ Black Power” A term used during the Civil Rights movement Many worried that this slogan went against King’s ideal of “peaceful protest” During this time there were many riots There was a large riot in Los Angeles in 1992 This shows that America is still far from solving it’s problem with racism

Los Angeles Riots 1992 (p. 125)

Problems The O.J. Simpson trial Showed the complexity of racial problems in the U.S. The election of Barack Obama shows the progress America has made with racial issues Time will tell how far America has come during Obama’s term as President

Women’s movement In 1896 blacks were given the right to vote Right was still not given to women In 1920 women were given the right to vote 19 th Amendment to the Constitution Women had pushed for this right after World War I Women held many of the “men’s” jobs while they were at war This helped the suffrage movement greatly

Women and World War II 16 million American men went to fight 6 million women went to work in the factories Produced military goods A movement was born after women proved they could do the difficult jobs normally done by men

First-Wave and Second-Wave Movements First-wave (WWI) – Right to vote Second-wave – Focused on equality with men Wanted changes in divorce laws Wanted equal pay Freedom in decisions about pregnancy Right to abortion Contraceptives (the pill)

Important Events 1960 – Birth control pills approved (safe) 1963 – Equal pay act Equal pay for equal work The pay is not yet equal, but has risen greatly 1965 – Affirmative Action No discrimination based on race, gender or religion for government jobs 1969 – First “no-fault” divorce law in California Women begin to gain more rights in marriage and divorce 1973 – Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case which made abortion legal

Women’s Rights We’ve discussed some important events in the Women’s Movement While many issues still exist, we have seen a lot of progress from these movements Examples In the beginning of the 20 th century only 20% of degrees were earned by women Now it is close to 50% In the beginning of the 20 th century only 5% of doctors were women Now it is almost 38%

Lesson 13 Civil Rights

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Lesson 13 Civil Rights