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How Did The Naacp Influence The Civil Rights Movement

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How Did The Naacp Influence The Civil Rights Movement
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) was established on February 12th, 1909 and was originally named the ‘National Negro Committee’. This association was founded by a white man from Kentucky, William English Walling, who saw a ‘need for a nation-wide effort to combat evil’. The NAACP philosophy was originally based on 18th Century liberalism as well as the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence; because of this, the NAACP strongly believed that non-violent protests and legitimate legal actions were the best way to achieve equal rights for all Americans. Throughout the Civil Rights Movements, the NAACP took a strictly passive-aggressive approach. They actively supported Martin Luther King (MLK) …show more content…
Throughout the Civil Rights Movements, the NAACP firmly maintained their non-violent approach (accompanied by Martin Luther King) and majorly inspired countless Civil Rights protests, court cases and law changes (it is believed that the NAACPs contributions and achievements were overshadowed by Martin Luther King’s campaigning). Since its establishment in 1909, the NAACP has contributed largely to the success of many history changing civil rights movements throughout the US. Some of the most influential of these include: 1913- opposed president Woodrow Wilsons introduction of ‘Jim Crows’ laws of segregation into the federal government; 1935- legal fight was won by Thurgood Marshall and Charles Houston, allowing an African American student to attend the University of Maryland; 1940- founding of NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund, Inc.; 1948 Morgan vs. Virginia court case- Court bans states from having laws that sanction segregation facilities in interstate travel by train or bus; 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education court case- successfully de-segregated public schools (led by Thurgood Marshall); 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott- non-violent protest which resulted in the de-segregation of public transport- Martin Luther King also emerged during this protest along with his organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; 1960 Greensboro- youth of NAACP launched ‘sit-ins’ (sitting at and taking up all of the seats at counters of various diners) which led to 60 stores de-segregating their counters- also led to the development of the Student Non-violent Co-ordination Committee (SNCC); 1963- NAACP pushed for Equal Opportunity Employment act; 1964- 55years after the formation of NAACP, Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress; 1965- Voting Rights Act was passed. Due to the NAACPs

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