Dbq Civil Rights Movement Analysis

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Between 1954-1968, the US faced a nation wide, yet controversial movement known as the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, African Americans protested their unfair treatment in hopes of ending all discrimination and racial prejudice through a constitutional amendment. African Americans, old to young, student to preacher, all used a variety of tactics, such as sits-in and organized marches, to convey their message in hopes of change, but the response was violent, which had a great impact on the US. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution was ratified, creating the new government system for the US. Within the Preamble of the Constitution, it states the role of the Constitution which intended to promote a perfect union. The Constitution was ratified …show more content…

Schools, drinking fountains, restrooms, and restaurants were all segregated by race. In 1954, Supreme Court case Brown v Board, ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, starting a period of integration. In 1963, University of Mississippi integrated its first African American student, James Meredith. James describes his experience as being “...the most segregated Negro in the world.” Meredith explained “If a white student sits down and drinks a cup of coffee with me, or walks with me across campus, he is subjected to unhampered intimidation and harassment” (Document 2). This was not the only example of school integration. In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine students were to be integrated. One the first day, mobs formed and the governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, deployed troops, preventing students from entering the school. One student failed to receive the message that the other eight students were not to attend that day. Once she arrived at the school, racial slurs were thrown at her, she was spit on, and harrassed. Those not integrating were out on the city streets protesting. In response to these protest, mobs formed and attacked the protesters. Soon, police would arrive and would “...use dogs to quell civil unrest… (and) also allowed fire hoses to be turned on young civil demonstrators” (Document 5). While all these violent attacks occurred, the media coverage increased, rejuvenating the idea of need for change. It was not only racist who acted violently during the Civil Rights Movement. One flaw of the Civil Rights Movement was the lack of a “...national organization which could speak to the growing militancy of young black people…” (Document 7). The abundance of violent responses to peaceful acts of protest angered many young African Americans, and yet they had no outlet to express their

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