The Civil Rights Movement

Lesson One: What is Change?

Essential Question
In order to create positive change during the Civil Rights Movement
leadership, unity, and legislation were established.

Intro Video Clip

While you watch the video clip, think about how African Americans might
have felt during this time. Think about segregation, their emotions they
experienced, and why they wanted change.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URxwe6LPvkMetaking Guide
Turn-and-Talk with Elbow Partner about Reaction to Video Clip! Be
prepared to share!

Discussion Questions:
Turn-and-talk with partner about these questions:

What emotions do you think African Americans experienced during

this time?
What are some of your thoughts after you viewed this clip?
How do you think African Americans felt during this time?
Why do you think African Americans wanted change?

Vocabulary
Segregation- the action or state of setting someone or something apart
from other people or things or being set apart.
Integration- the action or process of integrating; coming together.
Inequality- unjust and unfair bias or poor treatment towards an ethnic
group.

Vocabulary
Equality- the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and
opportunities.
Racism-the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics
or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as
inferior or superior to another race or races.

Vocabulary
Prejudice-preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual
experience.
Oppression- prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.

Music: A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL-4I18JFFU

Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the
Southern United States. Enacted after the Reconstruction period, these
laws continued in force until 1965.

What is Change?
Change- to make or become something different, or to want a different
outcome.

Leaders
Why are leaders so important to a movement for change, such as the Civil
Rights Movement?

Leaders are formed to help organize people and speak for the people who are being
mistreated. They bring awareness to others of the problem and help create solutions for
the problems. Without a leader situations that need change can become chaotic and
solutions to the problem may not be solved in an effective manner.

Who are some leaders you see in your community? Are all leaders positive
leaders? Why or why not?

Turn-and-Talk!

Leaders Cont.
Who are some leaders that create positive change worldwide?

Turn-and-Talk

Examples: The President of the United States, World Leaders in other Countries,
etc.

While we learn about the Civil Rights Movement we are going to learn more about the leaders
that helped prompt change and how they were able to help make change through their actions.
We are going to learn about several leaders that you may have never heard of and some you have
heard of like, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

Unity
Turn-and-Talk:

What is unity?
What does unity look like?
How do people unify together for a common cause?

Definition- unity, means people coming together for a common goal. To make change people came
together, unified to make positive change and they did this by using non-violence.

Unity Cont.
During the Civil Rights Movement, people united together in order to create positive non-violent
change. Unity is a major factor to why the Civil Rights Movement had a positive outcome.
Examples of how people united together during the Civil Rights Movement:
Boycotts
Protests
Sit-ins
Do you still see people doing the same thing now when they want change?
Turn-and-Talk!

Unity Cont.
During this unit, we will investigate how Civil Rights activist unified together for positive change.
Without unity the positive change that people wanted would not of occurred.
How do you see people unity now in order to create change? Do you think it is effective?
Turn and talk!

Legislation
What is legislation?

Legislation is process of making laws

Legislation is the final step that we are going to be studying related to change during the Civil
Rights Movement. In order to have things fully changed laws, legislation must be changed.

There can be positive and negative legislation. There were laws that were passed that
allowed segregation to take place. These laws were especially seen in the South.

Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483, was a landmark
United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws
establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be
unconstitutional.

Legislation

The following are forms of legislation that took place prior to the Civil Rights Movement:
Jim Crow laws
These were laws that were put in place to keep segregation in schools, public
transportation, and restaurants
Reaction to a change in legislation:
Brown vs. The Board of Education
All of the concepts connect with one another. Without leadership and unity the positive
change in legislation would not of occurred.

End of Lesson One!

The Civil Rights Movement

Lesson Two: Leadership

Essential Question
In order to create positive, non-violent change, leaders had to arise.

What do good leaders look like?

What are good characteristics that you believe a leader should have?
Turn and talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDNDy-zdqKM

Leaders

In order to create positive change leaders must be created. There are numerous leaders
that were formed and made it possible to create change during this difficult time in
history.
Blacks were tired of being mistreated and wanted to be provided with equal rights. In
order to create this change leaders were formed.
Leaders that we are going to be mainly discussing:
Martin Luther King Jr.
Rosa Parks
Fred Shuttlesworth
George Wallace
Theophilus Eugene Connor Bull Connor
Have you ever heard of these leaders before?
*Turn and talk

Martin Luther King Jr.

I have dream -Martin Luther King Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=3vDWWy4CMhE

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the

most famous leaders during Civil Rights
Movement. It takes a great leader to be
able to unify people. He unified people
through sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and
protest.
Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta,
Georgia in 1929. Throughout his time
leading the Civil Rights Movement he
never back down on his beliefs on
racism.

Despite it being a difficult time for

African Americans Martin Luther King
worked very hard to make sure Blacks were
provided with equal rights and
opportunities.
Martin Luther King Jr. went to some of the
most racist states to help the people there
unify in hopes to change their
circumstance. He believed in nonviolent
protest, believing that this was the best
way to bring about positive change for
Blacks.

Martin Luther King Jr.

With his wife, Coretta Scott King and his family by his side he would become of the worlds
greatest heroes, and human rights activist.
Martin Luther King Jr. worked long hours and risked his own freedom, and rights to make
sure others one day wouldnt have to deal with segregation.
On many occasions he was arrested because of his beliefs to end segregation. In fact, he
even got arrested in Alabama. Alabama during the 1960s was considered to be one of the
most racist states.
While protesting in Birmingham, Alabama for equal rights Martin Luther King was arrested.
Letter to Birmingham Jail written in April 20, 1963

Martin Luther King Jr.

NAACP-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

A Civil Rights Organization for ethnic minorities in the United States

During the Civil Rights Movement the NAACP was able to gain enough support and was
reason why legislations were able to be changed.
Activist: someone who works and labors for a cause

This organization is currently still in place and actively works to support minorities in
anyway possible.

Letter from the Birmingham Jail

When you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown
your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse,
kick, and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of
your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the
midst of an affluent society ... when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging
signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your
middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) ... then you will understand why we
find it difficult to wait...." His letter is a passionate indictment of American society for
permitting racism to continue. But it ends in hope: "I have no despair about the
future.... We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation
because the goal of America is freedom ."

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama which is a small city near Montgomery. She was
born on February 4, 1913.
Growing up in a small city in the South, Rosa experienced a great deal of racism.
She had seen terrible things done to Blacks and had seen acts of the members of the KKK,
who she witnessed burn down a black school and church.
KKK (Klu Klux Klan): a group that extended throughout almost every southern state. It
was a group of white southerners that did not want to blacks to have equal rights and
believed in acting out towards them in violent ways.

This group was widely feared. Anyone who wanted change and equality if the KKK was
aware of it would do anything in their power to stop this, sometimes even kill the
people.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks and her husband Raymond knew that they, as well as others deserved equal
rights and dedicated their lives to fighting for the cause. Together they joined the
NAACP. Rosa Parks wanted to do everything she would to fight for equality.
During the Civil Rights Movement she was very active and helped lead many groups.
When there was an opportunity to join Freedom Train in Montgomery she quickly joined.
The train was not to be segregated according to the Supreme Court.
Rosa Parks lead a group of Black students to the train. They were able to attend the train
ride and were able to wait in the same line as Whites, this was a very big deal. Some people
in Montgomery didnt like this, but Rosa wanted to show that everyone should be treated
the same. She was a strong believer in taking action and wanted to encourage others to do
the same.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was a large activist, and the reason that the Montgomery Bus Boycott began.
She sparked a movement when she broke the law, which was to give up her seat on the bus
to a white man. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and stood up for the rights she
believed she disserved to have.
Since she refused to give up her seat to a white man when the bus driver asked the police
were called to arrest her for breaking the law.On December 1, 1965 was arrested in
Montgomery, Alabama. At this moment many were upset and could no longer stand by and
watch the mistreatment of blacks.
In order to stand up for their rights a boycott was staged. African Americans refused to
ride the busses in Montgomery. Since Rosa Parks stood up for her rights people came
together to stand up for their rights as well. No longer would they stand for segregation.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks made such a large impact on the Civil Rights Movement that
many often refer to her as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the
mother of the freedom movement".
What you think "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the
freedom movement" means.
Turn and Talk!

Rosa Parks Video Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPvwKP8G4sA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfLU3pJkrfY

Fred Shuttlesworth
Video Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V50WNgqjDhI

Fred Shuttlesworth

Who is Fred Shuttlesworth?

Fred Shuttlesworth was a Baptist Minister who was one of the top leaders during the
Civil Rights Movement. He worked very closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He also co-founded the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) and helped
organize many protest in Birmingham, AL.
Shuttlesworth became the pastor of Birminghams Bethel Baptist Church in 1953.

After the passing legislation of Brown v. Board of Education ruling he was inspired to
actively participate in the Civil Rights Movement.

Fred Shuttlesworth believed that their should be African-American police officers,

which would help protect Blacks from unfair treatment.

Fred Shuttlesworth

In Alabama the NAACP was outlawed, which was an organization that helped fight for
African-Americans rights. Since it was outlawed, Fred Shuttlesworth started the Alabama
Christian Movement for Human Rights in 1956.
Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, Shuttlesworth, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph D.
Abernathy would be referred to as the Big Three.
Fred Shuttlesworth would work throughout the South to end segregation and even risked
his life during the process.

Do all Leaders Create Positive Change?

*Turn and Talk!
Do all leaders create positive change? Yes or No? Why? Example?
Can you think of an example with your elbow partner of a positive and
negative leader in your own life? What about during the Civil Rights
Movement?

Negative and Positive Leadership

During the Civil Rights Movement, not all the leadership wanted to change
the circumstances African Americans and many minorities were facing.
Negative leadership can be seen during the Civil Rights Movement by:

Bull Connor
George Wallace

Eugene Bull Connor

Video Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0lD37bq8YI

Eugene Bull Connor

Who is Eugene Bull Connor?

Eugene Bull Connor was the Birmingham public safety commissioner. He was a stronger
believer in segregation.
While the Civil Rights Movement grew during the 1550s-1960s, Connor kept a racist
attitude and made sure there were laws allowing segregation, especially in Alabama.
Eugene Bull Connor is one of the most famous segregationist because of the way he
treated African Americans. He would refuse to provide protection for African Americans
during the protest, arrested and harmed innocent people.

Eugene Bull Connor

Bull Connor help office in Birmingham for many years and during his time was known for hurting
and harming innocent people.
During his time in office:

In 1963 jailed student protesters and ordered authorities to use water hoses and attacks
dogs. This was broadcasted across the Nation.
Arrested Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., when protesting in Birmingham in 1964.
During this time Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the Letter From Birmingham Jail.

George Wallace
Video Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGQvKiJi4Jw

George C. Wallace
Who was George C. Wallace?

George C. Wallace was Governor of Alabama for 4 times and almost ran for president 3
times. He is most remembered for his beliefs in segregation.
He served as governor from the 1960s through the 1980s and ran for president 3 times.
When Wallace ran for governor his first time, and won he was supported by the Ku Klux
Klan.
He is most known for his speech that ended with this famous line, Segregation now,
segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever.
Turn and talk about your feeling about George Wallace and this quote.

End of Lesson Two!

The Civil Right Movement

Lesson Three: Unity

Essential Question
In order to change their circumstances, people united together to create
positive, non-violent change.

What is Unity?

Unity: the act of coming together for a common goal

During the Civil Rights Movement, people united together in order to create positive nonviolent change. Unity is a major factor to why the Civil Rights Movement had a positive
outcome.
Without people unifying do you think the Civil Rights Movement would of been as
successful as it was?
Turn and talk

How would you feel if you saw these signs and what would you do to make
positive change?

How did People Unify?

Unity is a powerful concept and is the reason that the Civil Rights Movement had a positive
outcome. There were many types of ways people united to make change. Examples of how people
united together during the Civil Rights Movement:
Sit-ins: an organizational protest in which people a group of people peacefully occupy a
location.
Boycotts: refusing (not doing) any business with a particular business
Protests: an event or time when people gather together when they strongly disagree with
something.
Marches: a group of people walking to a destination for a specific cause.
Protests: action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.

Sit-ins

During the 1950s and 1960s many places, especially in the South wanted to keep
segregation. African Americans were not allowed in certain restaurants, and other public
places.
In order to gain equal rights, and fight for the right to be served in a restaurant people
united and stage what we call sit-ins. This is when people would come to a restaurant that
only served Whites and would sit inside peacefully and asked to be served. Many times
there was not a positive reaction to this form of unity.
Many of times what seemed to be a peaceful protest would become violent by the people
who didnt want to see Blacks inside their restaurant.
These peaceful protestors would be attacked, and treated horribly.

Sit-ins

Boycotts
Boycotts: a group of people who refuse to do business with a certain place.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott:

The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in 1955.

This boycott began after Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
After she was released from jail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , and the NAACP organized a
boycott against bus transportation in Montgomery.
Mostly African Americans rode the bus, so they knew that it would really affect the
financial stability of local public transportation if they stopped riding the buses, making
the Government change laws and eventually get rid of segregation.

Boycotts

The boycott lasted for a little over a year. During this time many walked and found other
means of transportation. In 1956 it became illegal to racially segregate any seating on
busses. Due to unity this change was able to be done and make a large difference
The boycott lasted for a little over a year. During this time many walked and found other
means of transportation. In 1956 it became illegal to racially segregate any seating on
busses.
Due to unity this change was able to be done and make a large difference in the lives
African Americans were living in the South. Other boycotts against businesses would also
be take place during this time period.
Did you know people of all ages united together in order to create positive change?

Boycotts
Freedom Riders: The Freedom Riders were a group of college students who rode buses across
the south.

In the 1950s and early 1960s whites and blacks couldnt sit together, drink from the same
water fountains, or use the same bathrooms in bus or train stations in the southern states.
Laws had been passed saying that people must be treated equally when traveling between
states on bus or train no one made them enforce it.
In May 1961 blacks and whites tested the law and traveled on a bus across the South.
Throughout their journey they were treated horribly, and were attacked by angry whites.
The Freedom Riders were brave throughout their journey. As a result the U.S began to
enforce interstate travel laws.

Boycotts: Freedom Riders

I would like you to think about hard it must of been for the Freedom Riders. They were very
young people risking their lives to prompt change. Do you think that you would be able to do the
same? The teacher will have a whole group conversation related unity and the cause of it.
How hard do you think it is for people to unify?
Do you think that you would be able to do the same actions of the Freedom Riders?
Why do you think people didnt want to end segregation?

Marches
Marches: people coming unifying together to go to a particular location.

Throughout the Civil Rights Movement people used marches to as a representation of the
people who wanted and believed in positive nonviolent change. Leaders of the Civil Rights
Movement would participate in these marches, as well as organize them like; Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth.
People participating in the marches were always nonviolent despite the mean things people
would say and do to the people.
Two marches that we are going to look closely at are: Freedom March (Selma) and the
March on Washington

Marches
Freedom March: Selma to Montgomery.

This march took place in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama.

African Americans were not receiving their right to register to vote, even though legally
they were given the right to do so.
In hopes to gain their rights 600 people came together, on March 7, 1965, to march from
Selma to Montgomery, which is the states capital.
Protesters did not get far before being attacked by white segregationist. It was a brutal
attack against the peaceful protestors. The attack was caught on tape and was seen across
the country. Many people were angered by the crime.

Freedom March: Selma to Montgomery

Marches

Freedom March-Selma

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/selma-montgomerymarch/videos/bloody-sunday

Marches
March on Washington:

The purpose of the March on Washington was to push government officials, like the
president to help enforce integration in the South and provide African Americans a fair
chance at getting jobs.
The march was a peaceful way of protesting and bringing the issues that were taking place
to Washington, D.C. This way government officials could truly feel the presence of the
people and see how much equal rights meant.
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people show up for the march.

March on Washington

March on Washington

Marches

The march ended in front of the Lincoln Memorial. This is where all of the leaders would
deliver their speeches. There were also performances by famous artist like, Bob Dylan.
One of the final speeches given that evening was by Martin Luther King Jr. He delivered
one of his most famous speeches, I Have a Dream.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they

will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I
have a dream today!"
The march was considered a huge success brought up regarding Civil Rights and jobs was
broadcasted by the media and brought to the attention of the entire country.
This march is even remembered today. If you ever visit the Lincoln Memorial in D.C you can
see an inscription where Martin Luther King Jr. stood remember the speech.

I Have A Dream

Lets discuss!

Do you think that we are living Martin Luther Kings dream?

What are some marches that you have seen?

What do you think the purpose of the march was?

End of Lesson Three!

The Civil Rights Movement

Lesson Four: Legislation

Essential Question
In order to create, positive, non-violent change legislation had to be
reformed.

Legislation

What is legislation?
Turn and talk
Without the process of change legislation wouldnt of been able to be changed. It is
important to remember each concept is needed to create positive nonviolent change. When
leaders rise they are able to help people unify to gain the attention of others to encourage
them want to make a change for the people who have lacked freedom and opportunity. Once
people have unified successfully legislation can be prompted and laws can be created to end
segregation as well enforce laws that will help Blacks be successful.

Legislation

There can be positive and negative legislation.

Negative-Jim Crow laws
How did Jim Crow laws negatively affect people during the Civil Rights Movement?
Turn and Talk
Jim Crow laws was a form of legislation that was set in place by the government but it didn
t make the country or states better. Instead it prevented African Americans their rights.
The effect of Jim Crow laws lasted for years. It took several acts of unity and great
leaders to arise in order to get legislation changed to loose the effect of the Jim Crow
Laws.

Legislation

Through acts of unity legislation was able to be changed. It took a great deal for people to
unity but, once they did change would eventually begin to be seen.
Acts of unity that sparked change:
Marches
Protest
Sit-ins
Boycotts

Unitys Positive Effect on Legislation

Through sit-ins, protest and marches legislation began to be changed.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott had a positive effect for African Americans. After refusing
to use public transportation for nearly a year a law was passed to prevent segregation for
public transportation. This was a great moment in history.
All of the dedication that people showed had an direct effect on the government.
Dedication is a very important word when we discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the
people who made sacrifices in order to make a difference.

Marches: Creating Change in Legislation

Selma was another powerful and

effective moment in history. Marching
to Selma was a very difficult. The
march was stopped the first time and
people were brutally injured. When
marching back to Selma many people
gathered for the cause of all races to
stand up and march against segregation
and inequality. Marching to Selma
created numerous opportunities and
legislation was altered to enforce equal
voting rights.

March on Washington

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement/videos/martin-lutherking-jr-leads-the-march-on-washington

Marches: Creating Change in Legislation

This speech took place in Washington D.C on August 28, 1963. This was a big moment in not
just the Civil Rights Movement but was important moment in the United States. Once again
participating in a peaceful way, protestors wanted to bring the issues taking place, like
segregation and inequality directly to Washington politics. Civil Rights leaders gathered
everywhere to be at the march. They met with President John F. Kennedy to plan the walk
and to ensure that it would be peaceful. There were nearly 200,000 people who came. The
movement forced the government to implement the laws in the south, and ensure the
safety of African Americans. In response to the march the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was
passed in June. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was set in place to prevent schools in the
South to integrate, provide job opportunities, as well as voting rights ensured.

End of Lesson Four!

The Civil Rights Movement

Lesson Five: Culminating Lesson

Essential Question
Through leadership, unity, and legislation positive change was established.

Concepts of Change
The big ideas of change through the Civil Rights Movement are:

Leadership
Unity
Legislation

Turn and talk to your neighbor about the importance of each of the concepts of change.

Discuss some of the specifics that we have been talking about related to these topics

Change in Todays World

How do you all see change in todays society? Do you see the different concepts being
used?
Turn and Talk and be ready share
What are something you see people fighting for?
How do we achieve positive change?
What methods of unity do you see people using to fight for change?
Change is all around the world, not just here in America. I would like for you to turn-andtalk with your tables and make a list of some ways you see positive change in our world
today.
Turn and Talk

Civil Rights Leaders

Leaders who have Changed History!

Leaders from Across from Across the

World!

Quotes to Keep in Mind!

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change
the world.
Nelson Mandela
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for
others?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Turn and Talk!

With your neighbor or small group discuss connections
that you noticed about unity and different form of unity
(boycotts, marches, protest, and sit-ins) in other parts
of history or in todays society.

Creating Positive Change!

Each of you can make a positive change in todays world. Everyone is capable of making a
change in their own way. We have learned some great ways to create change from our
studying the Civil Rights Movement. It may be hard at times to be brave enough to stand
up for what is right but, we have seen through example how hard, and brave the people
were during the Civil Rights Movement, so we know we are capable now to create a positive
change.

Kid President!

End of Unit!

Our Friend, Martin: https://www.youtube.com/results?

search_query=i+am+martin+video