Key figures
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
He was a civil rights leader who fought for equal rights using non-violent protest.
What was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
It was a protest where African Americans refused to use city buses to fight segregation.
What does “segregation” mean?
It means separating people based on race.
What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
A law that banned discrimination in public places, jobs, and schools.
Who was Rosa Parks?
She was a woman who refused to give up her bus seat, helping start the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
What happened during the March on Washington in 1963?
Thousands gathered to demand civil rights, and Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
What is “civil rights”?
Rights that guarantee equal treatment and freedom for all citizens.
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do?
It protected the right of African Americans to vote.
Who was President during the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
President Lyndon B. Johnson.
What was Brown v. Board of Education?
A Supreme Court case that ruled school segregation unconstitutional.
What does “non-violent protest” mean?
Protesting without using physical force.
What changed in schools after Brown v. Board of Education?
Schools were no longer segregated
Who was Malcolm X?
He was a civil rights activist known for a more militant approach to achieving equality.
What were the Freedom Rides?
Bus trips through the South to test desegregation laws.
What is “discrimination”?
Unfair treatment of people based on race, gender, or other factors.
What did the Civil Rights Movement achieve?
Greater legal equality and protection of rights for African Americans.
Who were the Freedom Riders?
They were activists who rode buses in the South to challenge segregation.
What happened in Birmingham in 1963?
Peaceful protesters were met with violence from police, which gained national attention.
What does “equality” mean?
Everyone having the same rights and opportunities.
Why were new laws needed?
Because discrimination continued even after earlier court decisions.