Summary History civil rights movement (actions done in 1950s to imrpove the lives of African Americans)

Attempts made to improve the situations for African Americans before the 1950s


NAACP:

• The NAACP is America's oldest and largest civil rights organization. The NAACP played a
pivotal role in the civil rights movement before and during the 1950s.
• Through NAACP intervention, President Roosevelt established black organizations in
every major branch of the armed services.
• In 1942 the NAACP joined the “Double V” Campaign being conducted by the Pittsburgh
Courier. The purpose was to mobilize black civilians to fight for “a double victory–full
democracy abroad and at home.”
• The NAACP also fought against the Jim crow laws. It wanted to end segregation.




• This is a propaganda poster from the NAACP. They compare the Jim crow laws to nazi
ideology and claim their goal is to stop these laws.


Desegregation in 1948

• On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman issued two executive orders. One instituted
fair employment practices in the civilian agencies of the federal government; the other
provided for “equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces without regard
to race, color, religion, or national origin.” This was a major victory for civil rights
advocates in the quest for full citizenship.