Ch. 29.2 The Triumphs of a Crusade One American’s Story ­Who were the ​
freedom riders? ● Civil rights activists who were riding busses throughout the South in the early 1960s to challenge segregation. ● They helped bring about a federal ban on segregation in all interstate travel facilities. 1. Riding for Freedom ­What happened in Anniston, Alabama? ● 200 Angry whites attacked bus two. When one of the bus tires blew they smashed the window and threw a fire bomb in the bus. A. New Volunteers th​
­Where were the freedom riders heading on May 20​
? ● Montgomery Alabama B. Arrival of Federal Marshals ­What did whites do to the freedom riders in Alabama? ● They attacked them with bats and lead pipes. ­Why did the Africa Americans want the whites to do this? ● The newspapers denounced the beatings and made the whites look like the aggressors. ­Why were U.S. marshals sent to Alabama? ● To protect the freedom riders as they finished their trip 2. Standing Firm ­Where did civil rights workers focus their attention next? ● Integrating Southern schools and pushing the movement into additional Southern towns. A. Integrating Ole Miss ­Who was ​
James Meredith? ● Air force veteran, he became the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) ­Why was Meredith having a difficult time enrolling in Ole Miss? ● The governor (Ross Barnett) refused to allow him to register as a student. ­What kind of hardships did Meredith face? ● protests, nightriders shot up his parents house, threats of violence B. Heading Into Birmingham ­Why was Martin Luther King Jr. called to Birmingham, Alabama? ● To try and desegregate the city (1963) ­What events led to the desegregation in Birmingham? ● Continued protests, an economic boycott, and negative media coverage desegregated Birmingham. C. Kennedy Takes A Stand ­Why did Kennedy send troops to Alabama? ● To enforce a court order desegragating the University of Alabama. ­What caused African Americans to demand “Freedom now!”? ● When NAACP officer Medgar Evers was assassinated and the man accused, white supremacist, Byron de la Beckwith, was released after two trials resulted in hung juries. 3. Marching to Washington ­What did Kennedy’s civil rights bill propose? ● Equal access to all public accommodations and gave the U.S. attorney general the power to file school desegregation suits. A. The Dream of Equality ­Why did civil rights organizers ask their supporters to march on Washington? ● To provide support for passage of a civil rights bill. B. More Violence ­What was the ​
Civil Rights Act of 1964? ● A law which prohibited discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, or gender. It gave all citizens the right to enter libraries, parks, washrooms, restaurants, theaters, and public accommodations. 3. Fighting for Voting Rights ­What was ​
Freedom Summer? ● A movement to help African Americans acquire the ability to vote in the South. The movement was focused in Mississippi. A. Freedom Summer ­What happened to the people that volunteered to help African Americans register to vote? ● Three of them in Mississippi were murdered by Klansmen and local police. B. A New Political Party ­Why was the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party organized? ● To help African Americans obtain a seat in Mississippi’s all white Democratic Party. ­Who was ​
Fannie Lou Hamer? ● Spokesperson for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party at the Democratic convention in 1964 ­Why did young people in SNCC and the MFDP feel betrayed by some civil rights leaders? ● They were only given 2 seats out of the 68 seats so that Johnson would not lose the Southern white vote C. The Selma Campaign ­What happened in Selma, Alabama? ● The SCLC conducted a major voting rights campaign. ● A demonstrator was killed and MLK announced a 50 mile protest march from Selma to Montgomery (state capital) Alabama ● Police swung whips and clubs before the demonstrators could make it to Montgomery ­How did the SCLC respond? D. Voting Rights Act of 1965 ­What was the ​
Voting Rights Act of 1965? ● A law that eliminated literacy tests and allowed federal officials to register voters that were denied the right to vote by local officials.