Civil Rights Study Guide

The GI Bill was written for which group of people?

• Veterans returning from World War II

• Immigrants seeking citizenship

• Women entering the workforce

• Children affected by war

The interstate highway system helped Americans by: (Select all that apply)

• improving transporatation

• facilitating commerce

• increasing access to different regions

• limiting economic growth

What was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society”

• A set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.
• An environmental conservation plan focused on national parks.
• A series of military programs to increase defense spending.
• A foreign policy initiative to combat communism.

The purpose of Medicare and Medicaid is:

• To provide health insurance to elderly and low-income individuals

• To fund public schools

• To regulate food safety

• To manage national defense

What changed when the Economic Opportunity Act was passed?

• The government created new programs to fight poverty.

• The United States entered World War II.

• Taxes were increased for all citizens.

• The Constitution was amended.

In the court case Brown v. Board of Education, who was Brown and who did she stand for? Where was the Board of Education and what did it stand for?

• Brown was a student representing African American children; the Board of Education was the public school system representing segregation policies.

• Brown was a teacher representing all teachers; the Board of Education was a private school board representing private schools.

• Brown was a judge representing the Supreme Court; the Board of Education was a university board representing higher education.

• Brown was a lawyer representing the government; the Board of Education was a federal agency representing education.

What did the prosecution (Brown) want to change? Why?

• The law regarding segregation, because it was unfair.

• The location of the trial, because of bias.

• The judge, because of conflict of interest.

• The jury, because of lack of diversity.

How did many US cities react to the decision in this case?

• They welcomed the decision and implemented it immediately.

• They resisted the decision and delayed its implementation.

• They ignored the decision completely.

• They celebrated the decision with public events.

Prince Edward County, VA, reacted in which way, and why is this notable?

• It closed its public schools to avoid desegregation, which was notable because it was the only county in the nation to do so.

• It immediately integrated its schools, setting a national example.

• It ignored the Supreme Court ruling and continued segregation without consequences.

• It built new schools for both Black and white students.

Identify Thurgood Marshall and explain his significance to civil rights.

• He was the first African American Supreme Court Justice and played a key role in ending legal segregation.

• He was a famous jazz musician who promoted civil rights through music.

• He was a president who signed the Civil Rights Act into law.

• He was a civil rights activist who led the March on Washington.