Question 1

Early in his administration,how did John F.Kennedy aid the cause of civil rights?

Accepted Answer

He required government agencies to stop discrimination in federally supported housing.

Question 2

For most white Americans, the 1950s were an era of unparalleled decline in income and living standards.

Accepted Answer

The 1950s are generally seen as a time of economic prosperity for white Americans with a growing middle class and increased consumer spending. This period is often referred to as the "golden age" of capitalism in the United States.

Question 3

What is the relationship between the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 and the Edmund Pettus Bridge?

Accepted Answer

The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site where state troopers violently attacked peaceful marchers on March 7, 1965. This event, which became known as "Bloody Sunday," was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and sparked national outrage. The violence was captured on television and led to an increase in public support for the cause. As a result, Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists organized a march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for African Americans. The Edmund Pettus Bridge became a symbol of both the violent oppression faced by black Americans and the determination of civil rights activists to overcome it.

Question 4

Why did African Americans support John F.Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election?

Accepted Answer

Kennedy's campaign helped secure the release of Martin Luther King Jr. from jail, a move that significantly bolstered his support among African Americans.

Question 5

What does Map 21-1 reveal regarding the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on black voting patterns by 1971?

Accepted Answer

Map 21-1 shows that by 1971, there was a significant increase in the percentage of registered black voters in Southern states that previously had discriminatory voting practices. This increase is attributed to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which removed obstacles to black voter registration and ensured federal oversight of voting practices in those states. Therefore, the correct answer is C- The Voting Rights Act led to an increase in black voters.

Question 6

How is King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" an example of a strategic turning point in the civil rights movement?

Accepted Answer

In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," King argued that direct action was necessary to force change in unjust laws, which became a major strategy of the civil rights movement. His use of nonviolent direct action, such as sit-ins and boycotts, was instrumental in bringing attention to the cause and creating a shift in public opinion. Therefore, his letter can be seen as a strategic turning point in the civil rights movement. B, C, and D are incorrect because King did not advocate for violence, did not mention converting to Islam, and did not foreshadow his assassination in the letter.

Question 7

In his speech for the 1963 March on Washington,Martin Luther King,Jr.,cast aside his prepared remarks and made a passionate speech; his passionate delivery and his declaration of the rights of black people gave the speech its great power.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington and delivered it with great passion, deviating from his prepared remarks to emphasize the urgent need for civil rights and equality for black Americans.

Question 8

The Montgomery bus boycott set an example for future civil rights protests by blacks throughout the South.

Accepted Answer

The Montgomery bus boycott was a significant event in the civil rights movement and served as an inspiration and model for future protests and actions for equal rights for blacks in the South. The success of the boycott showed that peaceful, nonviolent resistance could effect change and became a blueprint for the civil rights movement.

Question 9

How did President Kennedy react to the challenges to federal authority posed by southern governors Ross Barnett and George Wallace?

Accepted Answer

President Kennedy responded to the challenges to federal authority posed by southern governors Ross Barnett and George Wallace by dispatching federal marshals to ensure that black students were admitted to universities. This showed his commitment to enforcing federal laws and asserting federal authority over state governments that were attempting to defy and resist integration efforts.

Question 10

Because the ballot was deemed the critical weapon needed to complete school desegregation and equal access to public accommodations,the SCLC focused on securing voting rights for black people.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the focus of the SCLC on securing voting rights for black people.

Question 11

Why did the Civil Rights movement begin to change in the early 1960s?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why did the Civil Rights movement begin...

Question 12

In 1955 and early 1956,desegregation of education proceeded without hindrance in Maryland,Kentucky,Delaware,Oklahoma,and Missouri.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Desegregation of education proceeded without hindrance in Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware, Oklahoma, and Missouri during the stated period.

Question 13

Who did many African Americans initially support in the election of 1960?

Accepted Answer

Many African Americans initially supported Richard Nixon in the 1960 election due to his civil rights record as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, which included support for desegregation and the advancement of civil rights legislation. John F. Kennedy's commitment to civil rights was less clear at the beginning of his campaign, leading to initial skepticism among African American voters.

Question 14

Why did COFO recruit northern white students to help with Freedom Summer?

Accepted Answer

COFO recruited northern white students to help with Freedom Summer because they believed that the presence of white students would attract media attention and increase national awareness of the civil rights movement.

Question 15

Which state was generally seen as the symbolic center of racism and violence in 1964?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi was widely regarded as the symbolic center of racism and violence in 1964 due to its high number of violent hate crimes against African Americans, including the murders of three civil rights workers that year.

Question 16

The results of Kennedy's efforts to woo black voters through campaign statements supporting black protests were unsuccessful in the 1960 presidential campaign.

Accepted Answer

Kennedy's efforts to woo black voters through campaign statements supporting black protests were somewhat successful in the 1960 presidential campaign, as he received a higher percentage of the black vote than any Democratic presidential candidate had received before. However, he still received less than two-thirds of the black vote overall.

Question 17

Although women occupied the top leadership positions in the Montgomery Bus boycott, men were the key to its effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. While women played crucial roles in the Montgomery Bus boycott, it was largely coordinated and led by men such as Martin Luther King Jr. and E.D. Nixon. However, both women and men worked together in the boycott and their contributions were equally important.

Question 18

The results of the Montgomery bus boycott included blacks returning to riding segregated buses.

Accepted Answer

The Montgomery bus boycott resulted in the desegregation of buses in Montgomery, Alabama, not the continuation of segregation. The boycott was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and ultimately led to the Supreme Court declaring segregation on public buses unconstitutional.

Question 19

A year after the Brown decision, in May 1955, the Supreme Court issued a second ruling, commonly known as Brown II, which addressed the practical process of desegregation.

Accepted Answer

Brown II did indeed address the practical implementation of desegregation, specifically ordering that desegregation needed to occur with "all deliberate speed."

Question 20

The results of the civil rights movement indicate the failure of the tactic of non-violent civil disobedience.

Accepted Answer

The results of the civil rights movement actually indicate the success of the tactic of non-violent civil disobedience. This tactic was heavily employed by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and led to significant gains in the fight for civil rights, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Quiz 21: The Freedom Movement