Module 7.01

Introduction A Modern Time

7.01

Moving Forward

The National Mall is a long, landscaped park in Washington, D.C. This photo was taken in 1963 when 250,000 people met to support civil rights laws. They were part of the American civil rights movement.

What Are Civil Rights?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

-The Declaration of Independence

The first section of the Declaration of Independence talks about natural rights that no one can take away. Today, we call these rights civil rights. Civil rights are rights that should be protected for all citizens, such as the right to safety and the right to be treated equally, no matter your race, age, or gender. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution also explains rights protected by law for all Americans.

In the history of the United States, different groups have had their rights limited because of their race, age, gender, or disability. How have civil rights been limited for certain groups? Use the search engine to find out.

How have civil rights been limited for certain groups?

• Women: After World War II, women were encouraged to make their home their career. However, more women wanted to earn college degrees. Many also wanted to find work outside of the home. There were fewer job opportunities for women. Many of the jobs available to them paid much less than what men made doing the same job.

• African Americans: Some Southern states had Jim Crow laws. These laws forced segregation onto the population. Segregation kept people separated from one another based on their skin color. African Americans went to different schools and sat in different areas in buses, theaters, and restaurants. They even had to use separate drinking fountains and waiting areas.

• Native Americans: In 1953, the United States Congress passed a law about Native American reservations. This law ended the reservation system. It also took away special protections of Native Americans. This meant that many tribes lost the lands they were given. It caused an increase in poverty in Native American tribes.

How have civil rights been limited for certain groups?

• Hispanic Americans: During and after World War II, many immigrants came to the United States from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Latin American countries. Some came because industries and farmers needed workers. Many had permission to come to the United States from the government. Others did not. This is called illegal immigration. Businesses hired these illegal immigrants and took advantage of them. They were paid very low wages. They also faced prejudice, discrimination, and violence.

• Americans with Disabilities: People can have different disabilities. They might face intellectual or developmental challenges. Or they may have been injured and now live with a physical disability. Those with disabilities have faced exclusion and discrimination because they have some different needs than others. Many struggled with going to public places because they weren't wheelchair accessible. Some could not find available job opportunities or did not get jobs because of their disabilities.

American Civil Rights Movement

It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that enough people started to work together to gain civil rights for African Americans. This was called the civil rights movement. It was a movement that included support from both African Americans and whites. They opposed the unfair treatment of African Americans. The movement was a large campaign with the goal of eliminating racial discrimination and segregation in the Southern United States. Let’s look at some major events in the history of the civil rights movement.

American Civil Rights Movement

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools went against the Constitution. This decision eventually led to the desegregation of schools. This means African American children were no longer forced to be separated from other children.

American Civil Rights Movement

In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person. She was arrested, and the African American community boycotted the bus system for over a year. This means people refused to take the bus out of protest. This led to the desegregation of buses in 1956.

American Civil Rights Movement

In 1960, four African American college students started a sit-in campaign at a segregated lunch counter. They sat at the white counter to protest segregation laws. This started many other sit-ins across the country. Eventually, the lunch counters were desegregated.

American Civil Rights Movement

In the summer of 1961, African American and white college students participated in freedom rides. They traveled by bus and train to protest segregation on different modes of transportation and in bus and train stations. Over 70,000 people participated in this protest.  

American Civil Rights Movement

In August of 1963, 250,000 people of all different races participated in the March on Washington. They met at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Peaceful Protest

The civil rights movement involved peaceful tactics. The people organized sit-ins, boycotts, and marches. Members of the movement were often attacked or arrested for protesting. This pushed them to continue their demonstrations to raise awareness of the injustice of racial inequality.

Activists were often attacked by people who did not agree with them. They were arrested for breaking segregation laws. However, demonstrators continued to show their disagreement with the unfair laws. Finally, in 1964, the government of the United States passed the Civil Rights Act. It outlawed racial segregation in schools and public places.

The civil rights movement inspired other groups to fight for civil rights. Many used the same peaceful tactics. How did women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Americans with disabilities fight for civil rights?

Peaceful Protest

Hispanic Americans In the 1960s, Hispanic workers joined to form the United Farm Workers. This group fought against poor working conditions and pay. They organized strikes. Their peaceful protests helped them make agreements with companies across the nation. They helped get better working conditions for different groups.

Women The National Organization for Women formed in the 1960s. It fought for equal rights for women in education and the workplace. This organization supported the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment. This law makes discrimination based on gender illegal.

Native Americans Many Native Americans joined in the 1960s and formed the American Indian Movement. This group helped influence laws protecting Native American rights in education, health care, and family law.

Americans with Disabilities It is important to continue protecting everyone’s civil rights. Millions of people continue to work today to ensure equality for all people, no matter who they are, how old they are, where they come from, or their disability.

Lesson Summary

The time leading up to and during the civil rights movement in the United States was difficult. Many people brought the injustices discrimination and segregation to light with boycotts, peaceful demonstrations, and sit-ins. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other members of the civil rights movement brought an end to racial segregation. More groups helped bring about laws and agreements that helped civil rights for Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, and Americans with disabilities.

Multiple Choice

Which laws did Southern states pass to segregate African Americans?

• Funding Act

• Jim Crow

• Compromised Tariff

• Southwest Ordinance

Multiple Choice

Why did African Americans in the South have to use separate drinking fountains?

• Colder water

• Closer to home

• Segregation policy

• Preferred using them

Multiple Choice

Which law makes racial segregation in schools and public places illegal?

• The Equal Rights Movement

• The Civil Rights Act

• American with Disabilities Act

• Jim Crow Laws

Multiple Choice

Who refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person?

• Harry T. Moore

• Rosa Parks

• Ruby Bridges

• Martin Luther King, Jr.

Multiple Choice

Which group fought against poor working conditions and pay for Hispanic Americans?

• National Organization for Women

• United Farm Workers

• Disabled in Action

• American Indian Movement