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Protest and progress, 1960 to 65
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In the early 1960s, sit-ins, Freedom Rides and marches put civil rights on television screens across the world and pushed Congress to act.
Progress, 1960 to 62
Sit-ins (1960): students sat at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina; sit-ins spread and SNCC was formed.
Freedom Rides (1961): CORE activists rode buses across the South to test desegregation; a bus was firebombed at Anniston, Alabama.
James Meredith (1962): Kennedy sent federal marshals and troops so he could enrol at the University of Mississippi.
Freedom Rides (1961): CORE activists rode buses across the South to test desegregation; a bus was firebombed at Anniston, Alabama.
James Meredith (1962): Kennedy sent federal marshals and troops so he could enrol at the University of Mississippi.
Peaceful protests, 1963 to 65
Birmingham (1963): police chief Bull Connor used dogs and fire hoses on protesters, including children, shocking TV viewers.
March on Washington (August 1963): about 250,000 people; King's "I have a dream" speech.
Freedom Summer (1964): volunteers registered Black voters in Mississippi; three workers were murdered.
Selma (1965): marchers were attacked on 'Bloody Sunday'.
March on Washington (August 1963): about 250,000 people; King's "I have a dream" speech.
Freedom Summer (1964): volunteers registered Black voters in Mississippi; three workers were murdered.
Selma (1965): marchers were attacked on 'Bloody Sunday'.
The laws
Civil Rights Act (1964): banned segregation in public places and discrimination in employment.
Voting Rights Act (1965): banned literacy tests and sent federal officials to register voters.
Both were pushed through by President Lyndon Johnson.
Voting Rights Act (1965): banned literacy tests and sent federal officials to register voters.
Both were pushed through by President Lyndon Johnson.
Explain why the Birmingham campaign of 1963 was important.
- Bull Connor's police attacked peaceful protesters, including children.
- The violence was shown on television across the USA and abroad.
- Public pressure pushed Kennedy to propose a civil rights bill.
Answer: TV images of police violence won sympathy and pushed the government to act.
1960 sit-ins (Greensboro, SNCC); 1961 Freedom Rides (Anniston); 1962 James Meredith. 1963 Birmingham and March on Washington; 1964 Freedom Summer; 1965 Selma. Results: Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965).
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