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VirginiaVirginia1954-19641954-1964

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In 1896, in In 1896, in PlessyPlessy v. v.Ferguson, the U.S.Ferguson, the U.S.Supreme Court ruledSupreme Court ruledthat separate but equalthat separate but equalfacilities were legal.facilities were legal.This ruling upheld theThis ruling upheld theidea of separation of theidea of separation of theraces and enforced theraces and enforced theJim Crow laws.Jim Crow laws.

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Under the Jim CrowUnder the Jim Crowlaws, life in the southlaws, life in the southwas strictly segregated.was strictly segregated.Theaters, schools,Theaters, schools,waiting rooms,waiting rooms,restaurants, even waterrestaurants, even waterfountains werefountains weresegregated.segregated.

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After World War II,After World War II,however, there was ahowever, there was adesire for change.desire for change.African Americans wereAfrican Americans wereno longer willing tono longer willing toaccept the Jim Crowaccept the Jim Crowlaws.laws.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance President Truman issued anPresident Truman issued an

Executive Order integratingExecutive Order integratingthe Armed Forces inthe Armed Forces in1947.With his signature, the1947.With his signature, thePresident, as Commander inPresident, as Commander inChief, ended segregation Chief, ended segregation ––in the Armed Forces, but notin the Armed Forces, but notin the rest of society! Lifein the rest of society! Lifewas still segregatedwas still segregatedthroughout the south.throughout the south.

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Schools and otherSchools and otherfacilities were supposedfacilities were supposedto be to be ““separate butseparate butequalequal””. They were. They wereseparate, but rarely wereseparate, but rarely werethey equal! Africanthey equal! AfricanAmerican schools oftenAmerican schools oftenwent without indoorwent without indoorplumbing and heatingplumbing and heatingsystems.systems.

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In 1954, The UnitedIn 1954, The UnitedStates Supreme CourtStates Supreme Courtruled in Brown v. Boardruled in Brown v. Boardof Education, thatof Education, that““Separate but equal wasSeparate but equal wasinherently unequalinherently unequal”” and andthe the PlessyPlessy decision of decision of1896 was overturned.1896 was overturned.Separate facilities wereSeparate facilities wereno longer legal.no longer legal.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance Senator Harry Byrd, Sr. Senator Harry Byrd, Sr.

of Virginia said theof Virginia said theBrown decision Brown decision ““willwillbring implications andbring implications anddangers of the greatestdangers of the greatestconsequence.consequence.”” He went He wenton to announce that heon to announce that hewould use all legalwould use all legalmeans to continuemeans to continuesegregated schools insegregated schools inVirginia!Virginia!

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance Governor Stanley ofGovernor Stanley of

Virginia appointed aVirginia appointed acommission to look atcommission to look atoptions for defying theoptions for defying theBrown decision. SenatorBrown decision. SenatorByrd developed a MassiveByrd developed a MassiveResistance plan to slow orResistance plan to slow orstop integration of Virginiastop integration of VirginiaSchools. The GeneralSchools. The GeneralAssembly in 1956 passedAssembly in 1956 passedlaws supporting Massivelaws supporting MassiveResistance.Resistance.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance Massive Resistance wasMassive Resistance was

VirginiaVirginia’’s policy to slow ors policy to slow orprevent integration of theprevent integration of thepublic schools in the statepublic schools in the statethrough every possible legalthrough every possible legalmeans. African Americansmeans. African Americansand many white Virginiansand many white Virginiansopposed Massive Resistanceopposed Massive Resistanceand protested against it.and protested against it.

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In Virginia, students atIn Virginia, students atMootenMooten High School in High School inFarmville, Virginia hadFarmville, Virginia hadled the fight for betterled the fight for betterschools. Black schoolsschools. Black schoolsin Prince Edwardin Prince EdwardCounty were poorlyCounty were poorlybuilt and many had nobuilt and many had noheat or indoorheat or indoorplumbing.plumbing.

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In Charlottesville,In Charlottesville,African AmericanAfrican Americanstudents had petitionedstudents had petitionedto attend the all whiteto attend the all whiteschools. In 1956 theschools. In 1956 theFederal Court orderedFederal Court orderedCharlottesville toCharlottesville tointegrate Venable andintegrate Venable andLane High Schools.Lane High Schools.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance In 1956, the VirginiaIn 1956, the Virginia

General AssemblyGeneral Assemblydefied the Federaldefied the FederalCourts and adopted aCourts and adopted aresolution ofresolution of““InterpositionInterposition”” which whichsaid the state couldsaid the state could““interposeinterpose”” between an between anunconstitutional Federalunconstitutional Federalmandate and localmandate and localauthorities.authorities.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance In 1958, when PresidentIn 1958, when President

Eisenhower ordered FederalEisenhower ordered Federaltroops to enforce integrationtroops to enforce integrationin Little Rock, Arkansas, thein Little Rock, Arkansas, theVirginia General AssemblyVirginia General Assemblyauthorized the Governor toauthorized the Governor toclose any school that wasclose any school that wasunder the protection ofunder the protection ofFederal troops and rejectFederal troops and rejectstate funding for any schoolstate funding for any schoolthat integrated.that integrated.

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Moderates in theModerates in theGeneral Assembly likeGeneral Assembly likeArmistead Armistead BootheBoothe of ofAlexandria, argued thatAlexandria, argued thatMassive Resistance wasMassive Resistance waswrong and illegal, butwrong and illegal, butthe General Assemblythe General Assemblywould not listen.would not listen.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance Instead of integratingInstead of integrating

the schools, the Generalthe schools, the GeneralAssembly refused toAssembly refused togive state money togive state money toschools. Schools inschools. Schools insome parts of the state,some parts of the state,such as Charlottesvillesuch as Charlottesvilleand Prince Edwardand Prince EdwardCounty closed theirCounty closed theirdoors, rather thandoors, rather thanintegrate.integrate.

Massive ResistanceMassive ResistanceParents, churches, andParents, churches, andbusinesses began to createbusinesses began to createhome schools for thehome schools for thechildren. Most schoolschildren. Most schoolsin Virginia stayedin Virginia stayedopen, andopen, andused local moneyused local moneyto run theto run theschools.schools.

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Citizens around the stateCitizens around the statebecame concerned asbecame concerned assome public schoolssome public schoolsremained closed. Inremained closed. In1959, after parent1959, after parentcomplaints and studentcomplaints and studentpetitions, Charlottesvillepetitions, Charlottesvilleand other jurisdictionsand other jurisdictionsre-opened the schoolsre-opened the schoolsand integrated.and integrated.

Massive ResistanceMassive Resistance Prince Edward CountyPrince Edward County

schools, however, remainedschools, however, remainedclosed until 1964 and thenclosed until 1964 and thenopened only after a courtopened only after a courtorder. It was the only countyorder. It was the only countyin Virginia to remain closed.in Virginia to remain closed.In 2003, the VirginiaIn 2003, the VirginiaGeneral Assembly issued aGeneral Assembly issued aresolution apologizing toresolution apologizing toPrince Edward CountyPrince Edward Countystudents who lost five yearsstudents who lost five yearsof education.of education.

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By 1964, Massive Resistance and InterpositionBy 1964, Massive Resistance and Interpositionwere no longer a part of Virginia politics. Itwere no longer a part of Virginia politics. Itwould take another ten years, however, to fullywould take another ten years, however, to fullyintegrate schools in the state.integrate schools in the state.

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Special thanks to The Ground Beneath TheirSpecial thanks to The Ground Beneath TheirFeet and the Library of Virginia and theFeet and the Library of Virginia and theUniversity of Virginia for the images in thisUniversity of Virginia for the images in thispower power point.point.