Bombing+of+the+16th+Street+Baptist+Church

Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church

__ When/Where this event took place (2 pts) __ The bombing occurred at the Birmingham Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963 midmorning during Sunday Services.

__ Who was involved? (3 pts) __ Four little girls died from this bombing, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, and Addie Mae Collins were killed in the explosion. The bombing was planned by a Ku Klux Klan group known as the Cahaba Boys. The group included Robert Chambliss, Herman Cash, Thomas Blanton and Bobby Cherry, who were charged for the crime. Robert Chambliss wasn’t convicted for the crime until 14 years later at age 73, he was convicted to life in prison in an Alabama prison where he died. Herman Cash died from an unrelated reason, but Thomas Blanton and Booby Cherry were arrested for the crime and convicted.

__ What happened during this event (2-4 sentences) (4 pts) __ On Sunday September 15th, 1963, a white man was seen getting out of a white and turquoise Chevrolet car and placing a box under the steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The bomb exploded soon after around 10:22 am, killing Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley. They had been attending Sunday classes at the church. 23 other people were also hurt by the bomb. It was bombed because it was a African American church.

__ What is the significance of this event on the Civil Rights Movement? (4-5 sentences) (8 pts) __ The incident backfired on the intentions of the people who set the bomb, it created a public outcry that helped to pushed President Kennedy's civil rights bills into law. In March, 1963, the Civil Rights Movement earned its greatest achievement. Shortly after the incident happened, Nina Simone could be heard screaming her song “Mississippi G damn” as a protest into open mics. Joan Baez and composer Richard Farina wrote a song titled “Birmingham Sunday” which explained the event and its aftermath. __ On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) how great of an impact do you think this event had on the Civil Rights Movement? (Explain your reasoning in 4-5 sentences) (8 pts) __ It played a big impact (10) on the Civil Rights Movements because it encouraged people to fight harder for civil rights. It gained many supporters which helped to urge Kennedy to pass the Civil Rights Bill into a law. The bombing earned a lot of sympathy in many people and over 200,000 marched to Washington. It outraged many people because it wasnt the only bombing and they couldnt take it anymore. The immediate consequence of the bombing was the July 2, 1964 passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson. it outlawed unequal application of voter registration requirements and segregation  in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. __ Three Images (3 pts) __ __

Sources (2 pts) __ __ [] __ __ http://www.helium.com/items/815737-the-birminghams-16th-street-baptist-church-bombing-and-its-consequences __