Leaving A Legacy
Social Studies Standard 5-5.3. I can explain the advancement of the modern Civil Rights movement, including desegregation, Brown v. Board of Education, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Acts and Voting Rights Act.
Many people think of the Civil Rights movement happened in the 1950s, but actually began all the way back in the 1860s! Ever since Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, African Americans have been working for improved Civil Rights.
What are Civil Rights, anyway? Civil Rights are the rights that every citizen has (like freedom to go to church, have a job, and speak your mind). In America, we believe that everyone, no matter their age, gender, skin color, or religion, should have rights and be treated fairly. It hasn't always been that way though. Let's learn more about how the Civil Rights Movement changed American history!
in 1896, there was a case in the Supreme Court called Plessy v. Ferguson. This case decided that it was perfectly legal to segregate whites and blacks. They called it "separate but equal." Here's the thing though, it was separate but it was NOT equal! Many Americans, such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, and Ida B. Wells Barnett tried to improve civil rights to minorities. The United States, particularly the south, would continue to support the "Jim Crow Laws" for nearly 60 years.
What are Civil Rights, anyway? Civil Rights are the rights that every citizen has (like freedom to go to church, have a job, and speak your mind). In America, we believe that everyone, no matter their age, gender, skin color, or religion, should have rights and be treated fairly. It hasn't always been that way though. Let's learn more about how the Civil Rights Movement changed American history!
in 1896, there was a case in the Supreme Court called Plessy v. Ferguson. This case decided that it was perfectly legal to segregate whites and blacks. They called it "separate but equal." Here's the thing though, it was separate but it was NOT equal! Many Americans, such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, and Ida B. Wells Barnett tried to improve civil rights to minorities. The United States, particularly the south, would continue to support the "Jim Crow Laws" for nearly 60 years.
The Civil Rights landscape in the USA began to change with World War II. Many African Americans served in segregated units, like the Tuskeegee Airmen. African Americans served loyally in the military and died for their country, which lead the president (Harry Truman) to desegregate the military in 1948. This was a step in the right direction, but blacks were still treated unfairly.
1954 is when the Civil Rights Movement really began to pick up steam. A Supreme Court decision, Brown v. the Board of Education, said that all schools must be desegregated, in other words, kids of all colors had to go to the same schools. States eventually cooperated this with rule, but many were not happy about it. From this point on, African Americans would would begin the fight for civil rights in earnest.
The Civil Rights Movements had several leaders who helped bring attention to the struggle of African Americans and the need for equal rights.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a minister, humanitarian, and civil rights activist. Dr. King believed in non-violence, staged sit-ins, marches, and gave speeches for civil rights.
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Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist best known for refusing to give her seat to a white man while riding on the bus. She was punished, but refused to pay the fine. Her actions lead to theMontgomery Women's Association calling for Montgomery Bus Boycott, where African Americans refused to use the busses.
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Unlike other leaders who believed in non-violence, Malcolm X felt that more aggressive demonstrations were needed in order to civil rights progress to be made. He believed that citizens should rely on themselves to make changes, not always to wait on the government. As time passed, Malcolm X thought that whites and blacks needed to work together to improve civil rights for all.
What did the government think about the civil rights movement?
President John F. Kennedy believed in the civil rights movement and proposed a civli rights bill to congress. Unfortunately, President Kennedy was assassinated, but after his death Congress passed laws banning segregation in public places and protecting the right of all Americans to vote in the mid-1960s. In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act! This act made it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race and integrated schools and other public facilities. After that, President L.B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which allowed all adults to vote, whether or not they could read. Both of these acts were great victories for African American citizens.
President John F. Kennedy believed in the civil rights movement and proposed a civli rights bill to congress. Unfortunately, President Kennedy was assassinated, but after his death Congress passed laws banning segregation in public places and protecting the right of all Americans to vote in the mid-1960s. In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act! This act made it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their race and integrated schools and other public facilities. After that, President L.B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which allowed all adults to vote, whether or not they could read. Both of these acts were great victories for African American citizens.
Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement left a legacy In other words, they handed down their ideas and work for the next generation. We still recognize the legacy left by these brave citizens.
Many other Americans have left a legacy. Learn more about them!
Many other Americans have left a legacy. Learn more about them!
You can find lots of information in the Mackinvia databases at mackinvia.com.
Just go to the website, then choose databases, the search for the inventors by name. Take a look at these databases:
KidsInfoBits, PebbleGo. Biographies, and Searchasaurus.
*If you can't figure out how to find the databases, here are some instructions.
Just go to the website, then choose databases, the search for the inventors by name. Take a look at these databases:
KidsInfoBits, PebbleGo. Biographies, and Searchasaurus.
*If you can't figure out how to find the databases, here are some instructions.