it might have looked like when the madison's were here. the effort has been remarkable. so thank you montpelier and thank you for being here. [applause] >> you are watching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend on c-span three. to join the conversation, like us on facebook at c-span history. week, american history visitserican artifacts museums, archives and historical places. the national museum of american opened on thee

washington monitor the monument. the museum has quickly become one of the most visited in the nation's capital with capacity clock -- capacity crowds almost every day. ofnext, in a two-part look the history galleries, we tour the exhibits titled "the era of segregation-1877 to 1968, and here the history of african-americans after the civil war. >> after the end of the civil releasedcan americans from their bondage immediately thought about creating their own lives with their own resources. one of the first things many of them tried to do was reconnect with family members who had been separated during that your of slavery. they traveled the country looking for their relatives. they placed ads in newspapers, primarily church-related newspapers, seeking to find there can folk. they wrote letters to the

friedman's bureau. they wanted to build communities among themselves. one of the major elements of that process was creating all lack towns. widerlcome in the society, number of african americans reconnected with their families and created towns where they built not only their homes, like this holding in maryland, which was then called jonesville maryland, but also schools and churches in those communities. building wasar built by john paul in eight teen 74. it compares or contrasts rather with the slave cabin you have seen earlier by being a two-story building. of his and hise family's ambitions and optimism for the future. they actually had just bought land, so they were freehold farmers, not tenant farmers or sharecroppers.

with others in their community, they built one of the first, one of nine all-black towns in montgomery county in the late 1870's and eight in 80's. it was a mark of their independence and it mirrored towns across the country. this building was still in use as a family home, although highly renovated well into the 20th century. the family that still owned the home once it was abandoned, decided to donate to this museum after researchers found this in what is now pools bill, maryland. our researchers went up and examined the building. we had to take the interior white board to see what the logs underneath looked like. we contracted with the buildings conservator. and went through log by log

restored what we could restore and replaced a few parts and rebuilt it here in the museum log by log for this display. cabinsre hundreds of inhabited by enslaved individuals. cabin we saw earlier in this tour in the slavery and freedom exhibition was occupied until the 1980's. most of them have been reconstructed, dated with vinyl siding. the current inhabitant don't even realize that underneath the shell of the building is the structure of a former slave captor. we will see the response to this kind of independence with a segregated society and in response with the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's.

at the very end of the civil war, african-americans had civil rights in the former confederacy and in fact had voting rights and produced legislatures in which 1900 african-americans had served in state legislatures in southern states. medical compromise removed northern troops from the confederacy. that allowed it white society to begin a campaign of removing the civil rights african-americans had received at the very end of re-creatingr and slavery by another name, what we have called jim crow. had changeselements in state laws that limited the rights of african-americans, limited their rights to move, to vote come a limited their rights to serve on jury duty, limited

their economic rights. but it wasn't the imposition of new laws. it was the support of those laws by a reign of terror. the symbol has come to be the ku klux klan, but the clan was not the only element of care. it was a broadly societal effort optimized by the clan. wasded in 1865, the established to form new kinds of law and the creation of a new type of white supremacy. society wasican attacked on all levels, not simply physical violence, but psychologically and intellectually and the denial of all the rights. but african-americans responded to that in a way that created their own society and allowed them to express their own vision for the future.

the symbolood became of the ku klux klan and was widely seen across society protecting the identity of individuals, though in most communities, everyone knew who was underneath the hood. but it wasn't just the physical terror of penalized by the clan and the lynchings other parts of society conducted. more than 4000 individuals were illegally murdered with no consequences on the perpetrators from the team 80's into the 1940's. it was a constant process of intimidation. it has had to do with psychological intimidation, so the publication of a book in 1900 which are the idea that african americans were put on earth to serve white people.

they are not their own beings, not their own human beings, they are not their own selves. they are here as servants for society. that kind of structure and psychological makeup that had on white society as well as detrimental effects on african-americans which had to resist the constant barrage of negative information about them created a sense of terror that was constant and unremitting. yet, african-americans responded in a number of creative ways. it was not simply physical terror, but it involves things like the constant denigration of all americans so that stereotypes, what have become centurybles in 21st america were constant reminders that african-americans were inferior and constant reminders to african-americans that white

society did not value them as individuals and reductive members of society. the response of the african-american community, however, was not simply defensive. expressions of their own vision for the future. so they will to educational institutions. they built community and civic organizations. they focused on their churches and created entrepreneurial enterprises. they valued the black press, a free press that communicated information and built a society within the larger society that responded and protected them from the larger society but also express their own values and own sense of what the future could be for themselves.

♪ there early 20th century, was the beginning of a massive migration from african-americans to the rural south and northern cities -- from the south to northern cities. this allowed more opportunity for african-americans to engage in modern society. character ise the a good sense of themselves and their opportunities. where ninth teen 20's, african-americans served in great numbers, particularly in france in the military, their has come and engagement with cultural expression that has become known as the new negro or the new renaissance. this is the migration of the

negro by jacob lawrence, a retrospective looking back on the experience of movement of massive numbers, millions of african-americans to northern cities between 1910 and 1940. jim crow society was established north and south in the united states and the west for that matter. the tradition of response to that jim crow society, of efforts to expand civil rights for african americans had continued since the late 19 century well through the early parts of the 20th entry. juste 1950's and 60's, after world war ii where african-americans served in the military and came home to a segregated society that did not accept them entirely, the notion of a concerted biracial movement grew and took on more added

energy and strength. on the other side of this white instances of have violence against african-americans who were act is in the civil rights movement before there was a civil rights movement. in the 1940's and 50's, act of us constantly tried to put pressure on white society to allow greater civil activity for african-american, he got right, but particularly voting rights. one of the major proponents of voting rights in florida was hairy more and his wife, harry at. they were active in the civil rights movement. oath of them were educators and registered many african-americans in florida to vote. on christmas day, 1941, a exploded under their bedroom in broward county florida. harry was killed outright.

harriet died a few days later, but they were only two of several martyrs to the civil rights movement before the board versus brown of education case in 1954 and before the montgomery boycott is to gated by rosa parks. there has been a constant number of individuals who were fighting the -- fighting for civil rights before those events drew national attention, who were killed by the terrorists involved in trying to preserve white supremacy. hisy moore, his wallet, pocket watch and his wife more these small ladies wristwatch. the small locket which harriet were contained photographs of herself and her husband. these are the personal elements that survived in 1951.

of three civil rights era activism comes from the example of this example from john's island, just south of charleston. groupnkins created a called the progressive society a smallsware aided hotel and gas station and cooperative store. and bought a volkswagen van began ferrying individuals from john's island to the job in charleston. but it wasn't simply a transportation service. during the ride from the island and back at night, jamie would teach the individuals literacy skills, teach them how to read and write and use the constitution of the state of south carolina to teach them about voting rights so that they

would have the opportunity to take the test and apply for voter registration. service alonga with an opportunity for african-americans to gain their rights. in the midst of a segregated was one transportation of the great challenges for both african-americans and whites. to create separation for whites but allow transportation for the black immunity. this railway car told in 1923 was only in 1940 renovated to create separate sections -- that is the system became more restrictive as time went on and more african-americans joined the traveling ranks. this car was made for the southern railways and traveled between washington dc and new orleans and had to accommodate the notion of increasingly

segregated society. go inside and take a look. as a white hassan jerk, i look at this portion of the car and say these are nice, large seats. i'm quite comfortable here. i can look out the windows and enjoy a smoke free atmosphere because when i get back here, i've got room store my large luggage. i don't have to keep it on my lap and i've got a restroom with a lounge that allows for smoking out of the main car and they fairly large restroom that is quite accommodating for passengers. if i were an african american passenger, i would walk into this section and take a look and say these seats are fine, but there's no place to store my luggage other than a mall overhead rack. if i have a large bag, i've got to keep it with me on my lap or

at my feet. i look around and see there's no other accommodations except a very small toilet area with no lounge. in other words, it's a much different experience for long-distance travel for african-americans and clearly an inferior experience. when the supreme court of the united states announced separate inherently equal in american education in the brown be board case -- brown v board case, it opened the door for other out to americans to argue about that same kind of

inferiority in separate but equal situations. in 1955, rosa parks, with a long career in activism decided she could not take it anymore, that she needed to find out what her rights as an african-american were. so, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus in montgomery, alabama. parks was sewing the stress at home during the time in which she refused to give up percy. this was her project at home. another woman early on in the civil rights movement was quite different -- not a 40-year-old married woman with a job but a 14-year-old high school student by the name of carlotta walls in little rock, arkansas, who simply want the best education she could get because she had the ambition of becoming a doctor.

when the opportunity to attend the best high school in little rock, central high school, she signed up and became one of what later became known as the little rock nine, the first nine african-american students to integrate little rock central high school in 1957. that is the dress the first day 57 when she 90 teen was denied access to the school. it was address that exemplified her desire is a work team-year-old to get the best education and put herself where she a situation achieve respected and her ambitions. a very typical american story. quite a different story is joan trump our, a 19-year-old white , joant at duke university was a devout christian and figured the civil rights

movement expressed christian values and therefore joined citizens in a room, north carolina and ultimately became a member of the student nonviolent coordinating committee and spent four years in the movement. was one of the freedom writers, arrested, served time in parchman prison in mississippi the notion with her of an interracial, multiracial, cooperation that would lead to civil rights for all americans. all the buttons that collected -- that represent the various causes she believed in and created her own monument and memorial and reminder of her act to release. of course, martin luther king was the inspirational leader of

the civil rights movement and has become the leader of that movement for many americans. he was certainly not the only individual who was primary to that movement in those activities. king, posthumously, and his widow were awarded the congressional medal of honor, the highest civilian award for americans. movedad evolved and had rights tofic african-americans, particular a voting rights and the end of agregation that included critique of the vietnam war and american poverty that affected all races and the dan a larger approach to change in america. at point, we're going to move on to 1968 and beyond.

having left the exhibition on the euro segregation, we moved to the exhibition, the final exhibition in the three-part history gallery, a changing america -- 1968 and beyond. you can sense a difference in the tone of the african-american liberation movement. the 1960's was an era of black power and the air of the transition of the philosophies of martin luther king, particularly his development of the poor people's campaign -- a multiracial campaign for economic justice and the end of poverty that king had initiated just before his assess the nation in 1968. the mural behind me is one of the representations of that campaign which was embodied in

resurrection city here in washington ec in may and june of 1968. king's vision was for a multiracial campaign that would bring native americans, african americans, latinos americans, puerto rican americans, poor, white individuals from all parts of the country to washington dc to lobby congress and the presidency for economic changes. not merely civil rights for one group but changes in the fundamental economic system that would alleviate poverty in america. this mural, one of many painted on the plywood that would have a that part of the tent city that housed 3500 individuals on the mall in washington d c represents that multiracial character of the campaign.

it contains a number of representations from chacon is clearly made by individuals, both african-americans and chacon is interested in the movement who brought their concerns and culture to washington dc for this moment. we are assuming it was produced in part by students from california almonds university of the pacific and the university of california at los angeles. it's also evident this could have in representing a number of individuals from various parts of the country, including the use of america language that expresses the hope that poverty can be ended in that united states. 's death, the reverend abernathy and karen us got king continued the poor people's campaign. resurrection city had permits to set up on the national wall.

the weather was terrible and for six weeks, they tried in vain to lobby the federal government for fundamental change. at the end of those six weeks, the federal government removed those from the city and evicted the residence and basically ended the campaign. members of the people's campaign who were washington residents managed to find out where the bulldozed material had been taken to a local military base at went by the base late night and salvaged some of the material, including this plywood and barrel. other material documents were preserved by activists who literally kept them until they donated it to this museum. many people think the black ofer campaign was a negation

the civil rights movement, that it was in opposition to civil rights. in fact, the nonviolent philosophy of martin luther king and the black power movement are not at odds, even though one of the symbols of the black power of qent is this image nude and holding a spear and a shotgun full newton is the premier example of this sense of militant opposition to american society the panthers allegedly represented. but much of the campaign was about self-defense for african-americans. the same kind of self-defense that had been seen with the deacons of defense and earlier efforts in the military and other areas opposing violence against society. part of the black panther campaign was social reform.

education reform, health care, to get anhe freedom education that was useful for them. opposition to the legal system thousandsmprisoning of african americans with no good reason. an element we want to focus on and make known more widely to the american public is the notion of survival programs. that the party was developing a series of activities and pioneered the idea of legal aid, health clinics, educational programs, a free breakfast program for schoolchildren. the social -- social reform the panthers advocated was as important, prop way more important than the militaristic side and militant activities highlighted in the press at the time. another element of king's

evolution was his development and opposition to the vietnam that rent american society in the 50's and 60's. king straight out said one of his greatest disappointments was america's failure to deal with the triple evils of racism, economic exploitation and militarism. african-american soldiers served in vietnam. some willingly, some reluctantly come but they have pride in their service and did their country, aerve their tradition that had continued on from earlier wars in american history and since the vietnam era for top the vietnam tour jacket was a common memento acquired by soldiers on our and our in okinawa where they would have them embroidered with symbols of their service.

in this particular instance, and african-american soldier not only had a tour jacket made to commemorate service in vietnam but had it warned with symbols hisack power, rep resenting commitment to the black power movement and his own service in the vietnam war. blackn this area on the power era is elements of rod concerns, basically a representation of the harlem renaissance of the 20th century, a concern with literature, culture, with representation. particularly the development of black women writers, black feminist, or teak of american society, the growth of surely chisholm, the first black woman to run for major party nomination for the presidency. a political force on all those levels through culture,

politics, popular culture representation in mass media. the black power movement renovated and created yet another new african-american way of expressing themselves and being represented and being in control of their own circumstances. that created opportunities for subsequent generations. most significant newple of that creating of opportunities comes with the growth and influence of someone all americans have come to know, oprah winfrey. black power in the civil rights movement opened up opportunities for african americans in all realms of american life -- politics, popular culture, literature, economic entrepreneurialism. both ro winfrey has become one of the great icons of the late

20th century, starting or talk show in 1986, she developed an empire that went on the business and talked about individual self empowerment, creative opportunities, educational opportunities, and use her wealth and influence to promote thekinds of ideas that black power leaders had advocated. her career exemplifies that kind of opportunity and making the most of it both individually and collect ugly. ms. winfrey was kind enough to be a supporter of this museum and donated these artifacts from the last show that aired in 2011 of heard daytime talk show.

in 2008, barack obama created a multiracial coalition that brought him to the presidency. that mirrored the type of coalition martin luther king envisioned in 1968 for the campaign. residency did not represent a post-racial society as we have come to understand. still, it represented a market archer from previous american political life and created a new image of the black man and lack family in the lives of many african-americans and americans. for whatever his legacy in terms of policy and the administration, his personal legacy and his impact on american political life will be seen as a very positive element historiansre as consider and reconsider the

impact of his presidency. lucky enough to have a president in barack obama who understood the impact of history and importance of understanding history, so the artifacts we received from the white house include the dress michelle obama, the first lady, war at of the 1963iversary march on washington and the comments signed by the president that he made on that occasion. acknowledging the history and importance of the 1960 three march on washington in which he makes clear every generation has a responsibility to increase the rights and opportunities all americans enjoy. it's that kind of opportunity and challenges represented by his administration and his understanding of history, that by the black lives matter see waysand others who

of creating a more will and just americans citing. the american experiment we continue to have. i think the history galleries power ofmonstrate the social change through activism, that nothing happens by chance. they demonstrate how the values represented in these exhibitions are quintessentially american values. are missing and resilient. thee about enlarging experience of all americans, african-americans and others. a very optimistic expression of overcoming the odds and succeeding. we think that's a very positive sign and we hope that is the message that positive change

comes about. then it is absolutely possible as long as one is involved in the values and processes of american democracy. >> general george washington and his troops crossed the delaware river right here to begin their march to trenton. coming up to more about their harrowing experience that christmas night in 1776. >> these are the times that try men's souls -- the summer soldier and sunshine patriot will shrink from the service of his country but he deserves thanks of all men and women. thomas payne will write the american crisis. it will be published on december 19 in the pennsylvania journal