1960’s in America

• Importance of the Space Race: it led to huge investments by both the USA and USSR in space exploration. It increased our knowledge of space. Technology was developed that could be used in other fields.
• Space Race: USSR was advancing much more than the US at first, with the first man/woman in space, first satellite on the moon etc. But USA did get a man on the moon first.
• Passive resistance: non-violent, peaceful protests
• Jim Crow Laws: laws that discriminated against black people in America
• Boycott: to refuse to buy or do something in protest
• Example of Jim Crow laws: seperate schools, interracial marriage was illegal, and segregated drinking fountains, has to be separated at public halls/theatres/public transport
• Voting Rights Act (1965) guaranteed the right to vote for all
• Civil Rights Act (1964) banned discrimination in schools, work places, public services
• Importance of the Civil Rights Movement: 1) showed that a campaign of passive resistance with widespread support could change laws. 2) showed that racism was widespread in southern states. 3) showed that many black americans remained poor in spite of winning civil rights. 4) campaign provided as an example for women’s liberation and civil rights in Northern Ireland
• The civil rights movement was when African Americans fought for their rights and freedoms.