Stand in the Schoolhouse Door

Stand In the Schoolhouse Door

What Happened?

George Wallace's Speech Summary

How did this relate to To kill a Mocking Bird?

Governor Wallace stated that these students were not wanted here. They didn't need them here. He said that John F. Kennedy was oppressing their rights and forcing us to allow blacks into our schools. He claimed that what the Federal Government is doing is unconstitutional. He claimed it would later lead to worse things down the road (“Governor George C. Wallace's Schoolhouse Door Speech.”).

This situation related to Harper Lee's work To Kill a Mocking Bird greatly. Lee's work discussed how the blacks were greatly discriminated against. This situation is a prime example of what Lee was talking about. Blacks were not permitted to receive a quality education, like what Lee stated. This made Americans realize that what Lee said was true.

In 1963, two black graduates were accepted into the University of Alabama. When the students tried to enter the University, the Governor George Wallace stood in the doorway with the State Patrol Unit, preventing them from entering. It was there that he also gave a speech. John F. Kennedy ordered the National Guard Unit to guard the black students and allowed them to enter the school (“Governor George C. Wallace's Schoolhouse Door Speech.”).

How did this affect the Civil Rights Movement?

The speech given had little impact on stopping the Civil Rights Movements mission of integration. Other colleges were already being integrated and after Wallace stood in the door, the students could still enter and more African-Americans registering was not treated as a big deal. George Wallace was not able to keep segregation in Alabama (“George Wallace Stood in a Doorway at the University of Alabama 50 Years Ago Today.”).

Works Cited

Alabama CSA. “Alabama Governor George C Wallace in

‘Forrest Gump’.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 8 January 2015. Web. 12 January 2015.

“George Wallace." Bio. Biography. A&E Television

Networks, 2015. Web. 12 January 2015.

“George Wallace Stood in a Doorway at the University of

Alabama 50 Years Ago Today.” U.S.News. U.S. News, 11 June 2013. Web. 9 January 2015.

“Governor George C. Wallace's Schoolhouse Door

Speech.” Alabama Department of Archives and History. State of Alabama, n.d. Web. 8 January. 2015.

“Your Opinions on George Wallace.” PBS. PBS, n.d. Web.

12 January 2015.

Other Student's Opinions (people who went to UA)

Most of the students who attended the University of Alabama agreed that George Wallace was a good man and a good politician, but he was wrong to segregate blacks. They believe that it was one of his only flaws as Governor. They seem to believe that he was not a bad man ("Your Opinions on George Wallace.).

Scene from Forrest Gump

http://viewrz.com/video/gump-schoolhouse-door

(Alabama CSA)

By: Harrison Bohannon, Ryan McCullough, and Austin Streetman

Background of George Wallace's Election

George Wallace was an Air Force pilot during World War II, and was later dismissed for being injured in battle. In 1953 he elected Judge in the 3rd Judicial court. In 1962, he ran for Governor of Alabama and was supported by the Ku Klux Klan, eventually winning the election. He won mainly because of his military service and the fact that he had previous political experience (“George Wallace.").