The James Meredith case (1962)
I can describe the case of James Meredith and explain the significance of Kennedy's role.
The James Meredith case (1962)
I can describe the case of James Meredith and explain the significance of Kennedy's role.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- After the Brown v. Topeka ruling, many universities were slow to desegregate in the south - if at all.
- James Meredith had tried several times to enrol at the University of Mississippi, with no success.
- With the support of President Kennedy, James Meredith enrolled at the University of Mississippi in 1962.
- Federal intervention in the James Meredith case led to the 'Battle of Oxford'.
- Despite continued resistance across the south, federal intervention showed that attitudes were changing.
Keywords
Enrol - to enrol means to officially register as a student on a university course
Common misconception
US presidents would only use federal intervention when pressured by the media.
Kennedy marked a change in the involvement of the president, as he was not pressured by the media to use federal intervention to support Meredith. Unlike in Little Rock, Kennedy's support came before the outbreak of violence from white Americans.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The James Meredith case (1962), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The James Meredith case (1962), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA: why was the civil rights movement more successful from 1960 to 1965? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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