This deck covers the development of the civil rights movement in the USA between 1954 and 1960. You'll learn about the system of segregation in the Southern states, the work of early civil rights groups, and the key events that began to challenge racial inequality, such as the Brown versus Topeka court case and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. We'll also explore the fierce opposition the movement faced.

In the early 1950s, particularly in the Southern states, American society was deeply segregated. This system was enforced by a collection of state and local laws known as 'Jim Crow' laws. These laws mandated separate facilities for Black and white Americans in almost all aspects of public life, including schools, hospitals, transport, and even water fountains. The principle was 'separate but equal', but in reality, the facilities for Black Americans were almost always inferior.

Beyond segregation, Black Americans faced widespread discrimination and the denial of basic rights. The most significant of these was the denial of the right to vote. Southern states used various tactics to prevent Black people from registering to vote, such as poll taxes, which required a fee, and literacy tests, which were often impossible to pass. This systematic disenfranchisement ensured that the white-dominated political structure remained in power.