Freedom rides: protests and progress for civil rights (1961)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the events of the Freedom Rides and explain their significance for the civil rights movement.
Key learning points
- In 1960, the Supreme Court had ordered interstate bus terminals and stations to desegregate.
- CORE, SNCC and the SCLC came together to organise Freedom Rides to see whether this ruling was being carried out.
- The Freedom Riders were an integrated group who faced extreme violence on their journey.
- Violent opposition was supported and enabled by the KKK, police chiefs and the FBI.
- The Freedom Rides were considered a success by most as they raised awareness of the civil rights movement.
Keywords
Interstate - interstate is when a service exists between states - for example, buses travelling between states
Direct action - direct action is the use of demonstrations or protest to achieve a goal, rather than negotiation
Integrated - integrated groups are groups with both black and white Americans
Common misconception
The increased success of the direct action in the 1960s was the result of minimal opposition.
Direct action in the 1960s was increasingly successful because of the increased opposition that was captured by national and international news reporters.
Teacher tip
In explaining the role of Police chief 'Bull Connor', you can emphasize his role as an example of opposition to the civil rights movement from people in positions of authority! It was no coincidence that his officers were given the day off the day the Freedom Riders arrived in Birmingham.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.To sit somewhere and refuse to move as a form of protest is know as a
Q2.To means to stop people being separated or kept apart by force.
Q3.Starting with the earliest, place these events into chronological order.
Q4.Which organisation was founded at Shaw University, North Carolina, in 1960?
Q5.In which two of the following events did SNCC play a leading role?
Q6. Which organisation did Stokely Carmichael and some other leaders of SNCC join in the late 1960s?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1. is when a service exists between states.
Q2.What was the outcome of the Supreme Court upholding the Boynton v. Virginia case?
Q3.Why did the Freedom Riders have no police protection when they arrived in Birmingham?
Q4.Which President sent in US troops to protect the Freedom Riders?
Q5.By how much did membership of CORE increase following the Freedom Rides?
Q6.In which area was one of the buses was firebombed by a mob of nearly 200 racist white Americans?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Freedom rides: protests and progress for civil rights (1961), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Freedom rides: protests and progress for civil rights (1961), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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