US History II
Mr. Grundfest
Name_________________________
Civil Rights 1950s Summary
The Civil Rights movement used different tactics and depended in many ways upon the
help of many groups. Use the readings, textbook and films to answer the following
questions.
1. Why were the state and local courts seen as hostile to African-Americans? How
did Civil Rights activists use the Constitution and Federal Courts to achieve their
goals?
2. What laws did the federal government pass to combat discrimination? Were these
laws successful?
3. How did politics and political interests affect some of the decisions made during
the Civil Rights era?
4. Which parts of the films you’ve seen have affected you most? Why? Use 3
examples.