Louisiana:Louisiana: The History of an American StateThe History of an American State

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Louisiana’s Civil Rights Era: Louisiana’s Civil Rights Era:

Challenge and ChangeChallenge and Change

Study PresentationStudy Presentation©2005 Clairmont Press

Chapter 15Chapter 15Louisiana’s Civil Rights Era: Louisiana’s Civil Rights Era:

Challenge and ChangeChallenge and Change

Section 1: Section 1: Segregation

Section 2: Section 2: State Government

Section 3: Section 3: Social Changes

Section 1: SegregationSection 1: Segregation

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:– What effects did the civil rights

movement have in Louisiana?

Section 1: SegregationSection 1: SegregationWhat words do I need to know?

1. boycott2. Citizen’s Council3. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas4. propaganda5. National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People6. sit-in7. Civil Rights Act of 19648. Voting Rights Act

SegregationSegregation• Whites in Louisiana operated a system

that benefited them and deprived blacks• Most white southerners did not see

segregation as unjust• Public places had “white” areas and

“black” areas, or were “white only” – people from the two races were not supposed to mix

• After World War II, many black servicemen came to believe the system needed to be changed

Baton Rouge Bus BoycottBaton Rouge Bus Boycott• 1953: one of the early bus boycotts in US• African Americans were expected to sit or

stand in the back; the front was “white only”• boycott: group refuses to do business with an

organization until some change is made• Rev. T. J. Jemison led five-day boycott of the

Baton Rouge bus system to gain better conditions for African American patrons

• 1954: Supreme Court ruled “separate-but-equal” concept was unconstitutional – the American way was equal treatment

The Fight for Civil RightsThe Fight for Civil Rights• Brown v. Board of Education – Supreme

Court decision saying that schools could not be segregated

• Citizens’ Councils – groups of whites who worked to keep segregation in place

• Louisiana’s legislature passed many laws trying to enforce segregation

• Many Louisianans believed that states had the right to decide issues such as segregation without the federal government’s interference (states’ rights concept)

OrganizingOrganizing• National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) worked for civil rights

• A. P. Turead – one of the first African American lawyers in Louisiana

• Filed lawsuit to allow a black student to attend an all-white school in 1952

The New Orleans The New Orleans School CrisisSchool Crisis

• Black children’s schools in New Orleans were crowded and in poor condition

• At first, black parents pushed for improvements in their schools rather than integration (mixing of white and black students)

• By 1956, Orleans Parish School Board was ordered to create a plan for integration

• The state legislature took control of all schools and tried to block integration

• 1960: federal judge created and imposed his own desegregation plan

• Ruby Bridges was first black student to attend a previously all-white school – William Frantz Elementary

• Ruby had to be protected by federal marshals • Business suffered as the rest of the nation and the world

avoided doing business in the segregated city

Public ProtestsPublic Protests• Sit-in: a protest where a person or group enters a place and

refuses to leave until they are recognized or their demands are met

• Sit-ins and other protests continued in stores, restaurants, and other public areas as blacks demanded equal rights

• Bogalusa was the site of clashes between whites and members of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)

• Governor met with leaders on both sides to avoid bloodshed• Governor John McKeithen ordered the State Police and

National Guard be in place to protect protesters• US Congress passed Civil Rights Act of 1964 – legally

ending segregation• Voting Rights Act – outlawed literacy tests and poll taxes and

sent federal registrars to register black voters

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Section 2: State Section 2: State GovernmentGovernment

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:– How did Louisiana’s government

change as a result of the civil rights movement?

Section 2: State Section 2: State GovernmentGovernment

What words do I need to know?1. code of ethics2. sunshine law

Jimmie DavisJimmie Davis• Re-elected in 1959 promising harmony, unity, and

no tax increases• Built the Sunshine Bridge between Baton Rouge

and New Orleans• Toledo Bend Dam constructed to generate

electricity • New governor’s mansion built• Code of ethics written to make sure that state

business was honest• Plan created to better manage state investments

John McKeithenJohn McKeithen• Became governor in 1964

• First candidate to use television ads

• Made ethics codes stronger

• Traveled across the country to bring more business and tourism to the state

• In his second term, he faced problems with labor unions and cost overruns on the Superdome project (cost 10 times more than expected to build)

Edwin EdwardsEdwin Edwards

• Won election in 1971 with support of African American and Cajun voters

• Increased funding for public hospitals and welfare

• Changed funding for severance taxes which increased money for government as oil prices increased in 1970s

• “Sunshine Law” enacted – made all government meetings open to the public

• Right-to-work law passed – said workers did not have to join a union

The 1974 ConstitutionThe 1974 Constitution

• 1921 constitution was too long• Voters elected delegates to write the

constitution• Had a bill of rights and outlined the

three branches of Louisiana government

• Not all the “little details” of old constitution were cut out, however

African American African American Elected OfficialsElected Officials

• Baker v. Carr – 1962 – court said voting districts must be drawn to equally represent all voters

• After 1970s, more African Americans were elected to local and state government

• Ernest Morial: first African American to be elected to Louisiana legislature in 20th century – 1967

• Morial elected first African American mayor of New Orleans – 1977

• Dorothy Mae Taylor: first African American woman in state legislature

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Section 3: Section 3: Social ChangesSocial Changes

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: – What social changes

occurred in Louisiana during the civil rights era?

Section 3: Section 3: Social ChangesSocial Changes

What words do I need to know?1. interstate highway

2. suburbs

3. busing

Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights• In early 1960s, women had fewer rights to vote, be

elected, own property or serve on a jury than men• Gov. McKeithen set up commission to study the

problem – 1964• Lucille May Grace: first woman elected to public

office in LA – 1931• Virginia Shehee: first female state senator (1976) • Lindy Boggs (1972): first LA female in Congress• 1980: end of “head and master law” – husbands

and wives became equal partners in marriage

Suburban GrowthSuburban Growth• Interstate highway system began in 1956 – multilane

highways with limited access• By mid-1970s, LA had 500+ miles of interstate highways• G.I. Bill and better highways helped suburbs to grow on

edges of cities• Air conditioning, television, and shopping malls changed life

in Louisiana during the 1960s and 1970s• busing: plan to make schools racially balanced by

transporting students to schools that were not in their own neighborhood

• One result of busing: “white flight” – white families moved to suburbs and out of the cities

Lifestyle ChangesLifestyle Changes

• Some young people in 1960s and 70s known as “hippies” – long hair, bare feet, tie-dyed clothing

• Many young men tried to avoid the draft into military for Vietnam War

• Older Louisianans were frustrated with many of the youth

VietnamVietnam• War in this small country between communist North

and democratic South• US sent military advisors, then troops• 600,000 US troops by 1968• Louisiana had military training bases – helped local

economy• Student protests against the war grew• Kent State University in Ohio: four students killed

during war protest• In Louisiana, there were protests, but many

students supported their troops and country

Louisiana Celebrates the Louisiana Celebrates the Bicentennial Bicentennial

• 1976: USA celebrated its 200th birthday• Declaration of Independence was signed in

1776• Louisiana was not one of the 13 original

states• Many state and local projects were

completed to celebrate the bicentennial

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