The Civil Rights Movement in the 1940s & 1950s [APUSH Review Unit 8 Topic 6] Period 8: 1945-1980

Summary

This video delves into the early foundations of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1940s and 1950s, focusing on key developments like President Truman's desegregation of the armed forces and the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, which overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine. Despite these advancements, Southern resistance, such as the Little Rock Nine incident, highlighted the slow and contentious process of integration. The video explores how civil rights activists pressured the federal government to honor post-Civil War promises, setting the stage for future progress in the 1960s.

Takeaways

• 😀 Civil Rights promises made after the Civil War were largely undermined by Jim Crow laws, voter suppression, and Supreme Court decisions like *Plessy v. Ferguson*.
• 😀 President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 in 1948, desegregating the U.S. armed forces, though he initially delayed full enforcement due to political concerns.
• 😀 Truman created the Committee on Civil Rights in 1946, which recommended desegregation of the military, abolishing poll taxes, and federal protection against lynching.
• 😀 The 24th Amendment, proposed by Congress in 1962, abolished the poll tax, addressing one of the Committee’s recommendations.
• 😀 The landmark *Brown v. Board of Education* case in 1954 overturned *Plessy v. Ferguson*, ruling that segregated schools were unconstitutional.
• 😀 The Supreme Court’s *Brown* ruling mandated that schools be integrated with 'all deliberate speed,' a vague phrase that allowed southern states to resist.
• 😀 Southern states, including Arkansas, strongly resisted desegregation after *Brown*, with the Southern Manifesto condemning the ruling.
• 😀 In 1956, Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus used the National Guard to block the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School.
• 😀 President Eisenhower intervened by sending federal troops to protect the Little Rock Nine, ensuring they could attend school.
• 😀 Despite significant legal victories in the 1940s and 1950s, resistance in the South meant that civil rights gains were slow and met with fierce opposition.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of civil rights activists in the 1940s and 1950s?

The primary goal of civil rights activists in the 1940s and 1950s was to pressure the American government to fulfill the promises made after the Civil War, particularly regarding equal rights, voting rights, and the abolition of segregation.

How did President Truman contribute to civil rights during his presidency?

President Truman contributed to civil rights by issuing Executive Order 9981 in 1948, which banned segregation in the United States Armed Forces. Additionally, he supported civil rights legislation, such as urging Congress to abolish poll taxes and protect African Americans from lynching.

What was the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education decision?

The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 was a landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. It overturned the previous Plessy v. Ferguson decision and stated that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'

What did the phrase 'with all deliberate speed' mean in the Brown v. Board ruling?

The phrase 'with all deliberate speed' in the Brown v. Board ruling was vague, leading to delayed school desegregation in the South. While it was intended to speed up integration, many Southern states used it as an excuse to resist and delay the process.

What was the Southern Manifesto, and what did it argue?

The Southern Manifesto was a document signed by Southern members of Congress in 1956, arguing that the Brown v. Board decision was an abuse of power by the Supreme Court. It called for opposition to desegregation and the defense of states' rights.

What action did Governor Orville Faubus of Arkansas take in response to school desegregation?

In 1957, Governor Orville Faubus of Arkansas called in the state's National Guard to prevent nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, from entering Little Rock Central High School, which had been ordered to desegregate.

How did President Eisenhower respond to Governor Faubus's actions?

In response to Governor Faubus's actions, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the desegregation of the school and protect the Little Rock Nine as they attended classes.

What role did the federal government play in civil rights progress during the 1940s and 1950s?

The federal government made significant strides in civil rights during the 1940s and 1950s, with President Truman taking executive action to desegregate the military, the Supreme Court ruling on the unconstitutionality of school segregation, and Congress eventually proposing the 24th Amendment to abolish the poll tax.

How did the legal system contribute to the progress of civil rights in the 1950s?

The legal system played a critical role in civil rights progress through key Supreme Court decisions like Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled against racial segregation in schools, and by setting legal precedents that challenged segregation and discrimination in various areas of society.

Why was desegregation of the armed forces important, and how was it implemented?

The desegregation of the armed forces was a significant step in the civil rights movement as it set a precedent for integration in other sectors of society. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 in 1948 banned segregation in the military, though full implementation only began during the Korean War due to political concerns and resistance from Southern Democrats.