New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Reasons why the civil rights movement was more successful from 1960 to 1965

I can describe the key moments of the civil rights movement and explain the main reasons for the success achieved by 1965.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Reasons why the civil rights movement was more successful from 1960 to 1965

I can describe the key moments of the civil rights movement and explain the main reasons for the success achieved by 1965.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The widespread use of non-violent direct action led to greater support from black and white Americans.
  2. The support of Kennedy led to rapid progress and greater federal intervention.
  3. As president, Johnson continued Kennedy's efforts passing both the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

Keywords

  • Direct action - direct action is the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal, rather than negotiation

  • Act - an act is a law passed by the government

  • Interstate - existing between states; for example, buses travelling between states

Common misconception

One individual, Martin Luther King, was responsible for the success of the civil rights movement from 1960 to 1965.

While Martin Luther King played a huge role of the success seen in these years, the success was also the result of several civil rights leaders and the work of their organisations as well an increasing support from the president.

In order to develop student's responses, when walking through the reasons for change you can encourage them to consider the relationship between the different reasons.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:Freedom Schools,temporary schools set up in Mississippi to help overcome inequalities

temporary schools set up in Mississippi to help overcome inequalities

Correct Answer:registration,the act of signing up to do something - for example, voting

the act of signing up to do something - for example, voting

Correct Answer:enrol,to officially register as a student on a university course

to officially register as a student on a university course

Correct Answer:direct action,the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal

the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal

Q2.
Who became president in 1960 with lots of support from black Americans?
Correct answer: John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Richard M. Nixon
Q3.
When did the march on Selma begin?
March 1964
Correct answer: March 1965
February 1965
August 1965
Q4.
Which president successfully passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965?
Correct Answer: Lyndon B. Johnson, LBJ, President Johnson, Johnson, Lyndon Johnson
Q5.
Which of the following was included in the Civil Rights Act (1964)?
Correct answer: banned segregation in public places
brought an end to literacy tests
Correct answer: banned any discrimination in voting and voter registration
gave federal agents the power to act against discrimination in registration
Correct answer: banned discrimination in employment
Q6.
Several civil rights leaders from which organisations decided to campaign for further change following the Civil Rights Act (1964)?
CORE
the NAACP
Correct answer: the SCLC
Correct answer: SNCC

6 Questions

Q1.
The widespread use of what type of tactic led to greater support of the civil rights movement from black and white Americans?
violent direct action
Correct answer: non-violent direct action
a mix of violent and non-violent direct action
Q2.
What word describes existing between states; for example, buses travelling between states?
Correct Answer: interstate, Interstate
Q3.
Put the following events of the civil rights movement from 1960-1965 in order, starting with the earliest.
1 - Greensboro sit-in
2 - Freedom Rides
3 - The James Meredith case
4 - Freedom Summer
5 - The Civil Rights Act
6 - The Voting Rights Act
Q4.
Which of the following were key reasons for the civil rights movement's success from 1960-1965?
reduced support for white supremacy organisations
Correct answer: multiple civil rights leaders
Correct answer: the work and dedication of civil rights organisations
Correct answer: increasing support from the president
a singular civil rights leader
Q5.
Why did President Johnson, not President Kennedy, pass the Civil Rights Act (1964)?
Kennedy bowed to Republican pressure and changed his mind.
Correct answer: Kennedy was assassinated so his vice-president took over.
Kennedy had only promised to pass the act to get more votes.
Kennedy stepped down as president so his vice-president took over
Q6.
The support of which president led to rapid progress in the civil rights movement and greater federal intervention?
Correct Answer: President Kennedy, JFK, John F. Kennedy, Kennedy, John Kennedy

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