what role did civil disobedience play in the Civil Rights Movement
MANY roles!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience
http://www.google.com/search?q=civil+disobedience+in+civil+rights+movement&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., employed many of Gandhi's and Jesus's ideas and actions:
Gandhi: Be sure to read about the civil rights movement in South Africa and his role in India's winning her independence from England:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi
Be sure you know what passive resistance is, too.
Civil disobedience played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement by serving as a powerful tool for activists to challenge unjust laws and practices. It was a strategic nonviolent tactic employed to bring about social change. In order to understand the role of civil disobedience in the movement, let's break down how it was implemented and what impact it had.
1. Definition of Civil Disobedience: Civil disobedience refers to the deliberate and peaceful violation of laws or regulations considered to be unjust, in order to protest and bring attention to social or political issues. It involves acts of nonviolent resistance and intentional disobedience of laws.
2. Strategy and Purpose: Civil rights activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr., believed in the moral obligation to resist unjust laws through nonviolent means. They sought to create a moral and political crisis that would force authorities and the general public to confront the injustice and inequality faced by African Americans. Civil disobedience was used as a means to disrupt the status quo, highlight the injustices, and gain public support for their cause.
3. Sit-ins and Boycotts: One of the most notable forms of civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement was the use of sit-ins and boycotts. African American activists would peacefully sit in segregated establishments, such as restaurants, and refuse to leave until they were served equally. This tactic directly challenged segregation laws and forced businesses and authorities to either comply with desegregation or face negative publicity.
4. Freedom Rides: Another impactful example of civil disobedience during the movement was the Freedom Rides. Activists, often integrated groups, would ride buses through the South to challenge segregated bus terminals. They willingly faced violence, arrest, and hostility, drawing attention to the inequality and bringing national and international media coverage.
5. Selma to Montgomery March: The Selma to Montgomery March, also known as "Bloody Sunday," was a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights. Civil rights activists organized a series of marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand an end to discriminatory voting practices. Participants faced brutal attacks by state troopers and local authorities, bringing widespread attention to the violence and injustice faced by African American citizens.
6. Legal Changes and Public Opinion: By utilizing civil disobedience, the Civil Rights Movement successfully challenged unjust laws and practices. These actions led to landmark legal victories, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which abolished segregation and protected voting rights. Civil disobedience played a crucial role in changing public opinion and forcing the government to recognize the need for legislative reform.
To recap, civil disobedience played an instrumental role in the Civil Rights Movement. Through strategic acts of nonviolent resistance, such as sit-ins, boycotts, freedom rides, and marches, activists drew attention to the injustices faced by African Americans, shifted public opinion, and pushed for legal and social change. Civil disobedience served as a powerful tool to challenge discriminatory laws, practices, and systemic racism.