civil rights essay lc

Advertisement

Supported by

Britain’s Violent Riots: What We Know

Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night’s anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead.

• Share full article

By Lynsey Chutel

After days of violent rioting set off by disinformation around a deadly stabbing rampage, the authorities in Britain had been bracing for more unrest on Wednesday. But by nightfall, large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations had not materialized, and only a few arrests had been made nationwide.

Instead, streets in cities across the country were filled with thousands of antiracism protesters, including in Liverpool, where by late evening, the counterdemonstration had taken on an almost celebratory tone.

Over the weekend, the anti-immigration protests, organized by far-right groups, had devolved into violence in more than a dozen towns and cities. And with messages on social media calling for wider protests and counterprotests on Wednesday, the British authorities were on high alert.

With tensions running high, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet held emergency meetings to discuss what has become the first crisis of his recently elected government. Some 6,000 specialist public-order police officers were mobilized nationwide to respond to any disorder, and the authorities in several cities and towns stepped up patrols.

Wednesday was not trouble-free, however.

In Bristol, the police said there was one arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle and a bottle was thrown. In the southern city of Portsmouth, police officers dispersed a small group of anti-immigration protesters who had blocked a roadway. And in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where there have been at least four nights of unrest, disorder continued, and the police service said it would bring in additional officers.

But overall, many expressed relief that the fears of wide-scale violence had not been realized.

Here’s what we know about the turmoil in Britain.

Where arrests have been reported

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Civil Rights in the United States

Civil rights movement, government materials related to the civil rights era, primary sources: general.

• Seminal Documents

(Also see Africana Studies Primary Sources )

• History Vault: Civil Rights and the Black Freedom Struggle This link opens in a new window Manuscript and archival collections focusing on civil rights and the Black Freedom Movement of the 20th Century. Contains records of four of the most important civil rights organizations of the 1950s and 1960s: NAACP, SCLC, SNCC, and CORE.
• Black Life in America This link opens in a new window The experience and impact of African Americans, as recorded by the news media.
• The Black Panther (Newspaper) The newspaper of the Black Panther Party. Twenty issues of the Black Panther Party newspaper from between 1968-1973. The papers are posted on Libcom.org.
• Civil Rights (National Archives)
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Library of Congress) Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the history that led up to it, and its immediate impact.
• Civil Rights Digital Library: Topics (Digital Library of Georgia) Select a topic to see archival collections and reference resources, many of which are available online.
• Civil Rights History Project (Library of Congress) Oral interviews and collections of people who participated in the Civil Rights movement.
• FBI Records: The Vault - Civil Rights FBI records included in the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Library.
• Freedom Summer Collection (Wisconsin Historical Society) Manuscript collections documents the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964
• Hispanic Life in America This link opens in a new window The experience and impact of Hispanic Americans, as recorded by the news media.
• Historical Publications of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Documents from this commission, which have been at the forefront of federal and state efforts for civil rights.
• Jim Crow and Segregation (Library of Congress) Set of primary sources that reflects popular views of and causes and affects of racial segregation.
• The Krueger-Scott Oral History Project The Krueger-Scott oral histories is the largest collection of oral history interviews conducted with African-American residents of Newark who came to the city during the Great Migration, as well as those whose local roots stretch back generations. The faculty, staff and graduate students at Rutgers University-Newark who have worked on the collection in collaboration with local cultural institutions are proud to have helped preserve, archive, and make public these remarkable oral narratives that describe an as yet unwritten history of 20th-century African-American life. (source: website)
• Land of (Unequal) Opportunity: Documenting the Civil Rights Struggle in Arkansas From the University of Arkansas
• The NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom The story of America's oldest and largest civil rights organization, told through letters, photographs, maps, and more. Part of the Library of Congress Primary Source sets.
• National Archives Civil Rights Records
• National Museum of African American History & Culture: Collections (Smithsonian) The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
• Voices of Civil Rights (Library of Congress) Exhibition that includes personal accounts and oral hstories. A collaboration of AARP, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the Library of Congress.
• Seminal Documents of the Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Data Collection

From the U.S. Department of Education

Illustrates that Civil Rights is not a historical phenomenon but an ongoing issue in the United States.

Library of Congress: Civil Rights Resource Guide

Links to over forty sites related to civil rights, library of congress: american memory, an important site from the library of congress. use the search box to find matches to terms such as civil rights, jim crow, martin luther king, etc., national museum of african american history and culture, a comprehensive smithsonian museum website.

In history and the humanities a primary source is a item produced from the time you are researching. Examples include a photograph, a letter, a newspaper article, and government documents.  Looking at actual sources from a specific time helps you get a firsthand account of what was happening then.

These resources will help you locate relevant primary sources. (See Primary Source Research for more guidance.)

Archives of searchable historical primary source materials. Note: This content has moved to the History Commons platform, but still contains the Accessible Archives collections subscribed to by Rowan University.

• African American Newspapers, Series 1 This link opens in a new window African American newspapers published in the U.S. from 1827-1998. more... less... Provides access to U.S. newspapers chronicling a century and a half of the African American experience.
• Archives Unbound This link opens in a new window Digital collection of historical documents from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. more... less... Collections cover a broad range of topics from the Middle Ages forward-from Witchcraft to World War II to twentieth-century political history.
• Historic Documents This link opens in a new window Primary source documents from 1972 forward in U.S. government and politics.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

New york public library digital collections.

• New York Times (ProQuest Historical Newspapers) This link opens in a new window Access to The New York Times (1851 - 2017). more... less... Presents PDF pages of the newspaper, preserving the visual sense of the publication. This online format replaces the microfiche archival coverage.
• Wall Street Journal (ProQuest Historical Newspapers) This link opens in a new window Online access to back issues of the Wall Street Journal, 1889 - 1999. more... less... Newspaper coverage is from 1889 through 1996. For more recent issues of the Wall Street Journal, select the Wall Street Journal (current) link.
• << Previous: Articles
• Next: Seminal Documents >>
• Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 3:05 PM
• URL: https://libguides.rowan.edu/civilrights

Leaving Cert help notes

Friday 18 january 2013, history essay - civil rights america 1945 - 1968, how successful was the civil rights agitation in the united states during the period 1945 - 1968, 8 comments:.

Thanks a mil :) really helped me make mine :D Emm I heard that if u just stuy the case studies you'll be grand since one of them comes up each year. Do you know if this is true?? Thanks :))

I'm not sure if this is true or not, look back over each year and see, however i would not risk just doing the case studies. The one you have learned may come up, but it could be a horrible question with a weird twist or angle to it which could be very difficult, in the is case you would not have the option of answering a different question because you would not have learned anything else. But it is up to you, look back over past questions and see what has come up :)

Pretty interesting post! Thanks it was interesting.

An gá duit iasacht le haghaidh gnó phearsanta? má tá i dteagmháil leis an ríomhphost seo ([email protected]) do do aistriú iasachta láithreach. is féidir leat freisin teagmháil a dhéanamh linn anseo ar an ríomhphost seo: [email protected].

Thank you so much!!!!

https://500px.com/p/harboejlqeaton

https://intensedebate.com/people/wilderkarst

https://www.ted.com/profiles/33557204

Home — Essay Samples — History — History of the United States — Civil Rights Movement

Essays on Civil Rights Movement

Hook examples for civil rights movement essays, anecdotal hook.

Imagine standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, listening to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. This moment in history epitomized the Civil Rights Movement's power and importance.

Question Hook

What does it mean to fight for civil rights? Explore the complex history, key figures, and lasting impact of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Quotation Hook

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. How did civil rights activists like King refuse to stay silent and ignite change?

Statistical or Factual Hook

Did you know that in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin? Dive into the facts and milestones of the Civil Rights Movement.

Definition Hook

What defines a civil rights movement? Explore the principles, goals, and strategies that distinguish civil rights movements from other social justice movements.

Rhetorical Question Hook

Was the Civil Rights Movement solely about racial equality, or did it pave the way for broader social change and justice? Examine the movement's multifaceted impact.

Historical Hook

Travel back in time to the mid-20th century and uncover the roots of the Civil Rights Movement, from the Jim Crow era to the landmark Supreme Court decisions.

Contrast Hook

Contrast the injustices and systemic racism faced by African Americans prior to the Civil Rights Movement with the progress made through protests, legislation, and activism.

Narrative Hook

Meet Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her bus seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Follow her courageous journey and the ripple effect it had on the Civil Rights Movement.

Controversial Statement Hook

Prepare to explore the controversies within the Civil Rights Movement, such as differing strategies among activists and debates over nonviolence versus militancy.

Brown V. Board of Education: a Landmark in The Struggle for Equality

Freedom summer: a pivotal moment in the american civil rights movement, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Dbq Non-violence Paper

The history of the civil rights movement in the united states of america, the civil rights movement: a struggle for equality, history of the civil rights movement in america, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Civil Rights Movement and The Struggles of African Americans During Those Times

The impact of martin luther king on civil rights movements, the contradicting outcome of the civil rights movement in america, the role of martin luther king jr. and malcolm x in civil rights movement, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

How The Civil Rights Movement Helped African Americans Achieve Their Rights

Martin luther king jr: influential figure in the civil rights movement, how martin luther king jr, rosa parks and malcolm x organized the civil rights movement, the role of the media in ushering the civil rights movement, development of racial tendencies in the united states, the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s, a deeper look at the civil rights movement in america, generation of the civil rights movement, black lives matter in the civil rights movement, the civil rights movement about african american people, the civil rights movement and african american discriminations, a report on the events that helped martin luther king jr.'s prominence in america to push the civil rights movement, the civil rights movement about national indentify, the influence of jazz musicians on the civil rights movement, rosa parks and the civil rights movement, the contribution of local grass-roots activists to the civil rights movement, rosa parks: the lady of the civil rights, brown vs board of education, the way rosa parks leadership style changed the history, rosa parks: how one bold decision made a world leader.

United States

Racism, segregation, disenfranchisement, Jim Crow laws, socioeconomic inequality

W.E.B. Du Bois, Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Henry MacNeal Turner, John Oliver Killens

Civil rights movement was a struggle of African Americans and their like-minded allies for social justice in United States that came to national prominence during the mid-1950s. The purpose was to end legalized racial discrimination, disenfranchisement and racial segregation in the United States.

“Jim Crow” laws were established in the South beginning in the late 19th century with a purpose to separate Black people from white people. Black people couldn’t use the same public facilities as white people or go to the same schools. Although, Jim Crow laws weren’t adopted in northern states, Black people still experienced discrimination.

Forms of protest and civil disobedience included boycotts, such as the most successful Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) that lasted for 381 days in Alabama; mass marches, such as the Children's Crusade in Birmingham in 1963 and Selma to Montgomery marches (1965) in Alabama; "sit-ins" such as the Greensboro sit-ins (1960) in North Carolina and Nashville sit-ins (1960) in Tennessee.

The Great March on Washington was held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. The purpose was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. It was organized and attended by civil rights leaders such as A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin and Martin Luther King, Jr., who delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

On July 2, 1964, President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and later sexual orientation and gender identity. The act "remains one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history".

The civil rights movement had tragic consequences for two of its leaders. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at a rally and Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on his hotel room’s balcony on April 4, 1968.

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during the King assassination riots. It prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, and national origin.

The 20th-century civil rights movement produced an enduring transformation of the legal status of African Americans and other victims of discrimination.

Relevant topics

• Manifest Destiny
• Great Depression
• Industrial Revolution
• Westward Expansion
• Pearl Harbor
• American Revolution
• Frederick Douglass
• Imperialism

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in World War II for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: May 19, 2024
• Post category: #625Lab History / History

The impact of WW2 on the North and South. This is a student essay corrected by an SEC examiner, marked 70/100. The feedback is in italics. You may also like H1…

Theodore Roosevelt: Imperialist and Peacemaker 1901-1909 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: May 1, 2024

President Roosevelt’s Diplomatic Achievements and his Impact on the Development of the Foreign Policy of the United States of America. "Your great work in world politics this summer, will be,…

Terence O’Neill was a failure as a political leader for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 3, 2024

Would you agree that Terence O’Neill was a failure as a political leader? Argue your case. This is a student submission corrected by an examiner, 51/100 with detailed feedback. It would be…

History Predictions 2024 (Later Modern) for Leaving Cert Higher Level

• Post published: January 18, 2024
• Post category: History / Predictions

Updated January 2024 The Later Modern History course for the Leaving Cert is very broad, with a maximum of 12 possible topics to cover, each with multiple sub topics. Often,…

Racial equality during 1945-1989 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: June 22, 2023

During the period 1945 - 1989, to what extent did the movement for racial equality achieve meaningful change in the US? (Higher Level 2019) Cumulative Marks: 78/60 -  Due to the wealth of information and number…

How effective a leader was Joseph Stalin during World War II for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: September 20, 2022

How effective a leader was Josef Stalin during World War II  Essay credit: Conor Gleeson. Graded 82/100 You may also like: To what extent did Lenin and/or Stalin bring about…

What were the main developments in church-state relations under Hitler and Mussolini?

• Post published: October 25, 2021

This essay is corrected as 95/100 with detailed feedback at the bottom of this essay. Essay credit: Aisling Walsh. You may also like Complete guide to Leaving Cert History The…

Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert History Guide 2023

• Post published: August 1, 2021
• Post category: History

This is relating to Leaving Cert 2023 and left here for reference purposes only. The examinable course is available here History 2024 2025 Start with these free resources: History mock…

Partition of Ireland 1912 to 1920 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 22, 2020

#625Lab – History, marked 78/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). The factors that contributed to the partition of Ireland between the period…

Connolly and Larkin in the Irish Labour Movement for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 18, 2020

#625Lab – History, marked 88/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). What was the contribution of James Connolly and/or Jim Larkin to the…

Irish government and the consolidation of democracy 1922-32 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: April 6, 2020

How did the Irish government contribute to the consolidation of democracy 1922-1932? #625Lab – History, marked 72/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

The controversies surrounding the treaty negotiations 1921 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: March 20, 2020

The Controversies surrounding the treaty negotiations 1921. #625Lab – History, marked 80/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Essay credit: Ciara McCarthy…

Causes of World War I for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: June 2, 2019

What were the causes of World War I? #625Lab – History, marked 88/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). By mid-1914 for…

Ireland 1912-1923: the use of physical force for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: March 31, 2019

The threat and use of physical force had massive effects on Ireland from 1912-1923. The foundation of two armed groups, the Ulster Volunteers and the Irish volunteers, both with vastly opposing aims, gave rise to an era of conflict in Ireland.

Government of Ireland Act 1920 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: February 2, 2019

What caused the Government of Ireland Act 1920 to come into legislation? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

Cosgrave and De Valera for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 27, 2019

During the period 1922-39, who achieved more in Anglo-Irish relations, Cosgrave or De Valera? Argue your case, referring to both. #625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very…

Germany 1920-39: social and economic problems for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 20, 2019

What were the social and economic problems facing Germany 1920-39 and how were they dealt with? #625Lab – History, marked 80/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also…

US race relations, 1945-1968 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 8, 2019

What were the main developments in race relations in the US, 1945-1968? #625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).…

Lenin, Stalin and economics and social change for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: January 1, 2019

To what extent did Lenin and/or Stalin bring about social and economic change? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History…

Martin Luther King and the Montgomery bus boycott for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 21, 2018

What was the contribution of Martin Luther King to the Montgomery bus boycott and to other aspects of US life? #625Lab – History, marked 85/100, detailed feedback at the very…

US Foreign Policy for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 19, 2018

During the period 1945-1989, what was the importance of US foreign policy of one or more of the following: Berlin, Korea, Cuba? #625Lab – History, marked 70/100, detailed feedback at…

Cumann na nGaedheal Government 1923-1932 for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 16, 2018

The Achievements of the Cumann na nGaedheal Government 1923-1932 #625Lab – History, marked 89/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Eimear O’Sullivan The Cumann…

Anglo-Irish Treaty for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: December 3, 2018

Assess the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) and consider the principal arguments for and against it. #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Eimear O'Sullivan The truce…

Eamon de Valera as a political leader for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 28, 2018

What were the strengths and weaknesses of Eamon de Valera as a political leader? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis Byrne. Eamon de Valera was…

Fianna Fail compared to Cumann na nGaedheal for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 22, 2018

How radical was the economic and social policy adopted by Fianna Fail after 1932 compared to Cumann na nGaedheal? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis…

Winston Churchill as a leader during World War II for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 15, 2018

How effective a leader was Winston Churchill or Josef Stalin during World War II? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Credit: Ellis Byrne. Feedback: This is a…

Stalin’s propaganda and terror for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: November 1, 2018

How did Stalin use propaganda and terror to remain in power? #625Lab – History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). Essay 1 Credit: Brian Ronayne. Feedback: This is a…

Isaac Butt’s strengths and weaknesses for Leaving Cert History #625Lab

• Post published: May 15, 2018

Comment on Isaac Butt’s strengths and weaknesses as leader of the Home Rule Party. #625Lab - History. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€) Feedback: The factual content…

Leaving Cert History: Documents and Essays 2018 and 2019

• Post published: April 29, 2018

For the more up to date version for Leaving Cert 2020 and 2021, have a look at this History Documents and Essay guide This our concise History edition. Our full…

What were the main developments in race relations in the US, 1945-1968? #625Lab

• Post published: March 27, 2018

#625Lab History Although slavery was abolished in America in 1863, discrimination against black Americans remained prominent throughout society more than a century later. Widespread racism was evident, particularly in many…

What were the main developments in church-state relations under Hitler and Mussolini? #625Lab

• Post published: March 14, 2018

#625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€).  With both Fascist parties rising to power in Italy and Germany, they…

What contribution did Joseph Goebbels and/or Leni Riefenstahl make to Nazi propaganda? #625Lab

• Post published: January 7, 2018

#625Lab – History, marked 87/100, detailed feedback at the very bottom. You may also like: Leaving Cert History Guide (€). There is very good use of factual information, which brings up the…

Leaving Cert History: Feminism in Ireland

• Post published: October 8, 2017

The role of women in Ireland, 1870-1914. Perspective: Economy and SocietyYou may also like:Leaving Cert History Complete Guide (€)The Status of WomenUntil the 1860s, women had to give up their…

Leaving Cert History Sample Essay: Religion and Culture in Northern Ireland

• Post published: August 29, 2016

What was the contribution of the Apprentice Boys of Derry to the celebration of religious and cultural identity among that city’s unionist minority? (2006)The Apprentice Boys of Derry, founded in…

The US and The World: Politics and Administration

• Post published: August 12, 2016

Timeline: The US and the world, 1945-1989Perspective: Politics and AdministrationImportant contextual information: US Government structureDon't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!The Federal…

US and The World Sample Answer: Lyndon Johnson as a Political Leader

“What were the strengths and weaknesses of Lyndon Johnson as a political leader?” This is an essay from our History guide. 2014 Higher Level Paper, Section 3, Topic 6 (THE…

Video: Nuremberg Rallies

• Post published: December 3, 2015

Please click continue reading to view video Don't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!Leaving Cert English Sample Essay and NotesFollow @625pointssix25points

Video: Stalin’s show trials

Please click continue reading to view videoDon't miss out on the latest A1 notes and tips from top Leaving Cert performers!Leaving Cert English Sample Essay and NotesFollow @625pointssix25points

What were the significant developments in the US economy 1945-1989?

• Post published: September 1, 2015

After facing years of economic lethargy during the time of economic depression in the 1930s and the following Second World War the US emerged as the most powerful economy in…

Top of page

The Civil Rights History Project: Primary Sources and Oral History

September 11, 2014

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

Share this post:

This post is by Rebecca Newland, the 2013-2015 Library of Congress Teacher in Residence.

History is most fascinating when we feel connected to the people with direct experience of the events. One way to pique student interest is by using primary sources from the Library of Congress –  letters, photographs, and oral histories — that document real people’s lives. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress recently launched the Civil Rights History Project , a digitized collection of interviews with active participants in the Civil Rights movement and essays about the movement.

These oral histories offer students the opportunity to watch and listen to real people, many of whom are still living, tell their stories about working with groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), participating in events like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963), the Freedom Rides (1961), the Selma to Montgomery Rights March (1965), sit-ins, and voter registration drives in the South.

Consider listening to portions of interviews that relate to what you are studying in class. Each interview includes a time stamped, searchable transcript. One method of introducing students to oral histories is to begin by asking students to listen and watch without distraction. Watch and listen a second time with the transcript. Invite students to annotate the transcript. Select questions from the Analyzing Oral Histories Teacher’s Guide  to prompt students to observe, reflect, and ask questions about what they hear and see. After listening a second time, ask students: What did you notice the second time that you didn’t the first?

Add ” Thinking Like a Historian ” routines to deepen analysis:

• Source : Identify the item’s author and purpose. Consider point of view and credibility.
• Contextualize: Situate the item and its events in time and place.
• Close Reading: Identify and evaluate what the source says, paying special attention to word choice.
• Corroborate: Compare claims and evidence across multiple sources to determine agreement and disagreement.
• Reading the silences: What is missing? Details? Perspectives?

Encourage students to reflect on the significance of oral histories when studying the civil rights movement of the 1960s by asking:

• What can we learn from oral histories?
• How is learning from an oral history different from studying other formats?

Reflect on your own teaching:

• How do oral histories support your students to help them develop listening skills?
• What opportunities do oral histories present for evaluating a speaker’s point of view and reasoning?
• What kinds of resources would help your students develop a more complete understanding of the events?

Share in the comments below: How will you engage your students with oral histories from the collections of the Library of Congress?

See All Comments

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• print friendly

Olmstead v. LC: History and Current Status

The olmstead supreme court decision in a nutshell.

Olmstead, or Olmstead v. LC, is the name of the most important civil rights decision for people with disabilities in our country's history. This 1999 United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Supreme Court held that people with disabilities have a qualified right to receive state funded supports and services in the community rather than institutions when the following three part test is met:

• the person's treatment professionals determine that community supports are appropriate;
• the person does not object to living in the community; and
• the provision of services in the community would be a reasonable accommodation when balanced with other similarly situated individuals with disabilities.

To learn more about Olmstead, click one of the links below, go to our FAQ page, or explore the other resources on this website.

More on Olmstead:

Brief history of olmstead.

The Olmstead lawsuit started with two women from Georgia named Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson who both had diagnoses of mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities. Lois and Elaine found themselves going in and out of the state’s mental health hospitals dozens of times. After each stay in the hospital, they would go back home; but then, because they did not have help at home, they would start to struggle again and would have to go back to the hospital to get help again. Lois and Elaine asked the state of Georgia to help them get treatment in the community so that they would not have to go live at the state mental hospital off and on. The doctors who treated Lois and Elaine agreed that they were capable of living in the community with appropriate supports. However, Lois and Elaine ended up waiting for years for their community-based supports to be set up.

Back to More on Olmstead  

Before Olmstead

Title II of the ADA prohibits public entities, including state and local governments, from discriminating against “qualified individuals with disabilities” by excluding them from services and activities due to their disability.  As part of the ADA, federal regulations were created to enforce the Act.  One of the regulations created by the United States Justice Department was called the “integration mandate.”  The integration mandate requires public entities to “administer services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the qualified individuals with disabilities.”  This integration mandate would become the basis of the Olmstead decision in 1999.

In 1995, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in the case of Helen L. v. Didario , found that a woman with a disability who was confined in a nursing facility had the right under the ADA to receive attendant care services in the community so she could leave the nursing facility.  The appellate court rejected the state of Pennsylvania’s argument that the woman needed to remain on the waiting list until funds became available.  Pennsylvania appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal, which left the Third Circuit’s decision intact.

The Olmstead Lawsuit

Oral arguments were heard on April 21, 1999.

In most of the court cases that have applied Olmstead, the first and second requirements have generally not been at issue.  The first requirement is based on the individuals needs and circumstances and not whether or not the services needed actually exist.  Whether such services exist or could exist is determined by the third requirement.  In most court cases, the second requirement would never exist because a person who opposes living in the community would not bring a lawsuit under Olmstead.  However, there are circumstances, such as class actions and cases brought by the United States Justice Department that apply to all individuals who are in a certain category, in these instances the default option is for the person to live in the community and such default is only overcome if the person actively opposes returning to the community.

The third requirement has been the focus of post-Olmstead litigation. In discussing the third factor, a plurality of the Court discussed what would be a reasonable modification under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Court acknowledge that a state might be able to resist some modifications if the modifications would fundamentally alter services. “Sensibly construed,” the plurality stated, “the fundamental-alteration component of the reasonable-modifications regulation would allow the State to show that, in the allocation of available resources, immediate relief for the plaintiffs would be inequitable, given the responsibility the State has undertaken for the care and treatment of a large and diverse population of persons with mental disabilities.”

The plurality then gave an example. It said a state could satisfy the reasonable modifications regulation if it demonstrated “that it had a comprehensive, effectively working plan for placing qualified persons with mental disabilities in less restrictive settings, and a waiting list that moved at a reasonable pace not controlled by the State’s endeavors to keep its institutions fully populated.”  This model of a working plan with reasonably moving waiting lists became a focal point of discussion in later litigation. The more time passes, however, from the Olmstead decision, the issue arises whether states still can defend from immediate Olmstead enforcement by creating plans and waiting lists.

From Olmstead to the Present

Although the Olmstead decision only involved one type of institution, which was a psychiatric hospital.  Courts quickly made clear that Olmstead applied to all state and Medicaid funded institutions, including nursing facilities.

Some courts have required that states provide additional Medicaid Waivers in order to be in compliance with Olmstead.  A Medicaid Waiver is a package of Medicaid funded services that states can provide to specific types of people with disabilities in the community who qualify for institutional level of care.

Olmstead History Links

• Oral Argument in Olmstead v. LC, April 21, 1999
• Transcript of Oral Argument
• Announcement of Olmstead decision by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, June 22, 1999
• Transcript of Announcement
• Olmstead v. LC (Opinion)
• Pleadings from Olmstead online at the University of Michigan School of Law Civil Rights Clearinghouse: Olmstead Collection

Back to More on Olmstead

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - ADA  

Montgomery Bus Boycott | Sample Answer