What was the main purpose of the Selma march in 1965?
The marches were organized by nonviolent activists to demonstrate the desire of African-American citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in defiance of segregationist repression; they were part of a broader voting rights movement underway in Selma and throughout the American South.
What was the Selma march and why was it important?
Fifty years ago, on March 7, 1965, hundreds of people gathered in Selma, Alabama to march to the capital city of Montgomery. They marched to ensure that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote — even in the face of a segregationist system that wanted to make it impossible.
What was the result of Bloody Sunday 1965?
On March 7, 1965 around 600 people crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in an attempt to begin the Selma to Montgomery march. State troopers violently attacked the peaceful demonstrators in an attempt to stop the march for voting rights.
Who was the governor during the Selma march?
George Wallace
| George Wallace | |
|---|---|
| Wallace in 1968 | |
| 45th Governor of Alabama | |
| In office January 17, 1983 – January 19, 1987 | |
| Lieutenant | Bill Baxley |
What were the effects of the Selma march?
It greatly reduced the disparity between Black and white voters in the U.S. and allowed greater numbers of African Americans to participate in politics and government at the local, state and national level.
Who was the Sheriff of Selma?
Clark
Filmed interview with Sheriff James G. (Jim) Clark for Eyes on the Prize 1. Discussion centers on his actions as sheriff during the 1965 Selma voting rights movement and his opposition to the Selma to Montgomery March and to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What was the impact of the Selma march?
Eventually, the march went on unimpeded — and the echoes of its significance reverberated so loudly in Washington, D.C., that Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which secured the right to vote for millions and ensured that Selma was a turning point in the battle for justice and equality in the United States.
Was the Selma march successful?
In March 1965, thousands of people held a series of marches in the U.S. state of Alabama in an effort to get that right back. Their march from Selma to Montgomery, the capital, was a success, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
What were the 2 goals of the Freedom Summer Project?
What Were the Goals for Freedom Summer? Its overarching goal was to empower local residents to participate in local, state, and national elections. Its other main goal was to focus the nation’s attention on conditions in Mississippi.