George Wallace and Black Power

The Twentieth Century, with host Mike Wallace, takes an in-depth look at one of America's most controversial politicians and the events that made his rise to power possible. George Wallace was the everyman's savior to some, a racist demagogue to others. He rode the political crest of racial unrest and the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s. The evolving militancy of the Black Power Movement caused a backlash among many white Americans, and George Wallace built his campaigns on their fears. Using archival footage and interviews, The Twentieth Century examines the life and times of George Wallace, and the backlash against Black Power. George Wallace and Black Power would be useful for lasses on American History, Political Science, Ethics, Civics and American Culture. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

• anarchist
• aspirations
• catapulted
• demagogue
• divisive
• expertise
• exploited
• implacable
• kowtow
• personify
• pugnacious
• rhetoric
• shrewd
• vigilante

1. How did George Wallace's national success reveal an ugly side of America?

2. The struggle for full equality for African Americans has taken over 100 years since Emancipation. Why has America been so resistant to extending full equality and civil rights to African Americans?

3. The Black Power Movement was a radical departure form the Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. How were these movements different? Were their goals the same? Why did this separation occur?

4. George Wallace knew how to exploit the racial fears of many Americans. How did he use these fears to instigate unrest among Americans whose economic conditions were beginning to worsen?

5. The Alabama State Constitution stipulates that no one can serve as governor for more than two consecutive terms. How did George Wallace circumvent this?

6. When George Wallace ran for president in 1968, the U. S. was a very different place than it was when he ran in 1964. What were the differences in America between these two election years?

7. How did George Wallace alter the political landscape in America?

8. At the end of George Wallace's political career, he had a change of heart. The man who once preached "segregation forever" now stated that integration was beneficial to Alabama and America. What caused this political turn around?

9. In the summers of 1965 and 1967, urban riots spread across the major cities of America. What were the reasons for these riots? Can you compare these riots to the L. A. Riot of 1992?

10. How did the Black Panther Party and Black militancy influence the future of politics in America?

1. Design a campaign poster for George Wallace's presidential bid.

2. Look at Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and Bobby Seale. What were each of these leader's philosophy concerning the Civil Rights Movement? Did they agree with each other? Did they work together? Which one of these leaders was most accepted by the white community? Which one of these leaders were most accepted by the black community? Was the black community united during the Civil Rights Movement? Why?

3. Outline the differences between the different leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmicheal, etc. And their strategies and goals for the African American community in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

4. Research newspaper accounts of the activities of the Black Panther Party in both the Black press and the white press. What differences do you find? How did Americans divide racially over the actions of this group?

Related Videos