Social Studies Praxis Practice Test

Which group played a crucial role in the civil rights movement and is known for nonviolent protests?

1. SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)

2. Black Panther Party

3. CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)

4. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

The correct answer is: SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was instrumental in the civil rights movement, particularly in its commitment to nonviolent protest strategies. Formed in 1960, SNCC emerged from a series of student-led meetings and was dedicated to increasing voter registration among African Americans in the South and organizing nonviolent protests against segregation. SNCC's approach included sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, freedom rides to challenge segregated transportation, and voter registration drives aimed at combating the systemic disenfranchisement of Black Americans. The emphasis on direct action through peaceful means aligned with the philosophies of prominent civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., who advocated for nonviolence as a crucial tactic in the struggle for civil rights. While other groups mentioned also contributed to the civil rights movement, SNCC is particularly renowned for its grassroots activism and ability to mobilize young people in nonviolent demonstrations, embodying the spirit of peaceful protest crucial for the movement's successes.