How did the Civil Rights Movement campaign against segregation in schools?

1. How did the Civil Rights Movement campaign against segregation in schools? L/O – To understand the key features of Brown v Topeka and to evaluate the significance of Little Rock Starter – What does segregation mean and how did the ‘Jim Crow’ laws enforce it?

2. Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 • Despite the fact that Black People had equal rights under the constitution, states were legally entitled to pass their own laws. • This meant that states could pass laws that discriminated against black people without asking the central government for permission. These became known as the ‘Jim Crow’ laws. • In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that individual states could impose segregation as long as the separate schools, hospitals and other services were ‘separate but equal’. Segregation WAS constitutional. • “The Plessy v. Ferguson case was a victory for black people as it ensures their equal rights in law” Do you agree? Explain your opinion…

3. Brown v. Topeka 1951 • The Plessy v Ferguson ruling of 1896 that allowed ‘separate but equal’ facilities for black and white people meant black children in many states had to go to all-black school which were often poorly funded. • In June 1951, Oliver Brown challenged this by going to court to try and integrate elementary schools in Topeka, Kansas. This was rejected. 2. Why do you think the Brown v. Topeka case was rejected by the State Judge? (Consider previous cases) Oliver Brown Linda Brown

4. Topeka, State Capital of Kansas

5. Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka 1954 • The NAACP (National Association for the advancement of coloured people) persuaded Brown to try again, this time at the Supreme Court. • The NAACP lawyers argued that separate education created ‘low self-esteem and was psychologically harmful as well as restricting education achievement for black students.’ • On 17th May 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that all public school segregation was unconstitutional. Brown had won and schools would now have to be integrated. 3. Why do you think the Judge agreed with Brown this time?

6. Consequences of Brown v. the Board, 1954

7. Little Rock High School, 1957 • School integration was met with bitter resistance. Arkansas was one state that had done little to integrate its schools. • In 1957, the Supreme Court ordered the Govenor of Arkansas, OrvalFaubus, to let 9 black students attend a white school in Little Rock.

8. Little Rock High School, 1957 • Faubus ordered his state troops to prevent the black students from attending school. He claimed he could not ‘guarantee their safety’. • Faubus only back down when President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect the students. They stayed for 6 weeks.

9. Consequences of Little Rock High School, 1957 a) Read page 201 and use the information to fill in this grid: b) Answer Questions 1-3 on page 200.

10. Use your notes and pages 198-201 to complete your hand-out

11. Homework • Read pages 30-33 • Answer Questions 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 & 9 in books • Work is due next Monday 10th September