Civil Rights
(The Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years)
Civil Right in the Truman Era
• Post-war prosperity, Cold War rhetoric led to increasing assertiveness of African-Americans
• Truman began to address civil rights issues, shortly after the war o 1946 - appoints commission to propose civil rights legislation o 1948 - Proposes civil rights legislations
Called for permanent Federal civil rights commission
Called for a permanent Fair Employment Practices Committee to end discrimination in employment
Blocked by Southern Democrats in Congress o African-Americans key in Truman's surprise victory in 1948 election
Truman again pushes FEPC, also anti-lynching legislation
again blocked in Congress by Southern
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Johnson (1963-1969) and Civil Rights
• A former Majority Leader in the Senate, LBJ was able to maneuver legislation through Congress that others had been unable to.
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 o LBJ passed this legislation with votes from Northern Democrats and Republicans o Made segregation by race of public facilities illegal o Established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to combat job discrimination o Provided protection for voting rights or African Americans. o Also made advances in prohibiting gender discrimination
• The Great Society o LBJ ran for election in 1964 campaigning on a war against poverty o As part of his campaign, he immediately began pursuing a number of anti-poverty programs, which came to be known as the Great Society o Winning in a massive landslide, continued to enact social legislation, such as Medicare
• Voting Rights Act of 1965 o Saw civil rights, and Black voting in particular, as a key part of these programs o Again, televised violence was key - police brutality against marchers in Selma led LBJ to call for comprehensive voting rights o Congress quickly passed the Voting Rights Act
banned literacy tests in states and counties were less than half of population voted in 1964
sent Federal registrars to those places to insure African Americans got on the voting rolls
dramatically increased the number of Black voters in the South
• Immigration Act of 1965 o LBJ
Although Kennedy never signed the legislation he set the groundwork for the civil rights movement. He proposed the idea and did most of the foot work, even kennedy's death helped pass the bill. After Lyndon took office, he was determined to carry out kennedy’s ideas. It only took a couple of months after Kennedy died for the bill to be passed (http://loc.gov/). Johnson used the nation's sympathy to propel the campaign forward. The campaign was doing so well after his death that it went further than Kennedy had ever imagined, the bill would go on to set up the NAACP and ended the poll
Soon after passage of the Voting Rights Act, federal examiners were conducting voter registration, and black voter registration began a sharp increase. The cumulative effect of the Supreme Court’s decisions, Congress’ enactment of voting rights legislation, and the ongoing efforts of concerned private citizens and the Department of Justice, has been to restore the right to vote guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The Voting Rights Act itself has been called the single most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever passed by
However, the government officials could have fought for these tests by saying that the tests made sure that voters understood who and what they were voting for. The Alabama test B and C especially would be very easy to fight for due to the fact that it actually went over what could pertain to what was on the ballot. While the other tests were just focused on if they had obtained an elementary education, officials obviously knew that all of the rich white people were able to receive an education. The arguments for those tests would be more focused on how those who vote should have an education so that they’re able to read about the problems that the laws are focusing on and what the newspaper is reporting on possible politicians running. They might have also said that those without an education does not have the skill to think critically and understand what is going on in the government due to them having a laboring job instead of someone who's a doctor or lawyer. However, the literacy tests were not the only standardized methods in the south to help African Americans to not be able to vote, there was also the application itself that helped the white people defer the African American’s away from
Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), was one of the most memorable as well as divided politicians in US history. With a humble past of teaching at segregated schools for 3 years, he had all the heart of someone to end slavery. But upon becoming a Senator, this seemed to change. During his Senate years, time and time again showed his dislike for Civil Rights. When President, he was a whirlwind of a worker to push this bill through. What changed, what didn’t, along with what drove him to do this.
America stands for equality, freedom, and choice, but upon looking into the history behind America the everlasting struggle of racism, bigotry, and inequality are revealed. Through the 1950s to the 1970s, the fight for civil rights by African Americans was prominent throughout America. Schools, restaurants, and all public facilities were segregated, African Americans were blocked from voting through literacy tests and poll taxes, and The KKK, a white supremacist group, would lynch African American men. The need for the immediate cease of these practices and the desire for equality gave way to the Civil Rights Movement. Leaders and groups arose from this movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and the Black Panther Party. The overall goal was to achieve rights but there were two significantly different methods of achieving this goal, non-violent civil disobedience and “black power”. The shift from non-violent civil disobedience to “black power” was caused by the emotional toll of being complacent during personal attack and the truth that immediate change calls upon the use of force, and the result of the shift was the further spread of violence.
“I gave a little blood on that bridge in Selma, Alabama for the right to vote. I’m not going to stand by and let the Supreme Court take the right to vote away from us [African Americans]” –John Lewis. Within 100 years, African Americans overcame many obstacles such as paying poll taxes, passing multiple tests, and violence to be able to vote. They had to pay taxes, such as poll taxes. They also had to pass multiple tests, such as the Property and Literacy tests. Violence was also an obstacle African Americans had to face in order to vote.
“The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.” In the 1880’s poll taxes and literacy requirements that afterward advocated African Americans to vote. Meanwhile Klan violence frightens from police and employers, blacks were still “protesting”about voting rights. As a result, there were over two dozen blacks serving in state congress across some
My research topic is the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and I chose this topic because I always found it amusing that it took so long for African Americans to legally be allowed to vote. I also thought this topic was appropriate since we now have an African American president, and the African Americans citizens need to know that voting I important because we didn’t always have that right. By completing my research I plan to gain knowledge about the subject and I also hope to encourage African Americans to exercise their right to
black males citizenship and civil rights), and the 15th amendment (made it illegal to deny
Lyndon B Johnson became president in 1963 after the assassination of President John F Kennedy on November 22nd 1963. He formulated many policies including ‘The Great Society’. This was introduced in an aim to end poverty, improve education and rejuvenate cities for all Americans. Johnson also introduced Civil Rights. This act refers to the personal rights a citizen holds which are protected by the US government and prohibits; the discrimination of race, religion, age or gender. This was introduced to create equal opportunities for all. This essay will outline the key factors regarding whether or not Lyndon B Johnson
We all hope to have, and understand, the characteristics that an amazing leader possesses. There are many great leaders, spread throughout our history. Malcolm X, George Washington, and Martin Luther King Jr. are just a few people who were blessed with what it takes to step up and become true leaders. By example, some of the other fantastic qualities of leadership also make up two remarkable people: Nelson Mandela and Suleiman the Magnificent. They exhibited many leadership-like characteristics, like them being feared yet admired by their people, or people from other countries, or the fact that they were also very intelligent, and tactical.
The civil war abolished slavery in America and granted African-Americans citizenship, however, after that African-Americans’ rights to vote was greatly limited for a century. In order to change this situation,
First, African American leaders argued that everyone should be treated equally. They wanted black African American men to be able to vote just like the white American men did. The whites refused to allow the blacks to vote. They threatened and beat the blacks, the “Jim Crow” laws blocked them from doing anything and everything For example, bathrooms, trains, and in busses they were forced to sit in the back. African American activists held nonviolent protests to bring change. Some of the more popular activist leaders were Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. Unlike Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, Malcolm X held violent protests. One of the more popular marches that took place during the voting rights act was the Selma to Montgomery. There were about 550 people marching. The march bought a lot of public support for the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans were given outrageous literacy tests. For example, the literacy test we were given in class was from the State of Louisiana. It stated that the test is to be given to anyone who cannot prove a fifth grade education. The test was given to every African American, even if they didn’t speak any english. This was just one
One of the most beloved president in the history of the United States is John F. Kennedy. JFK is revered and esteemed as a champion of racial equality. This perception of him was delicately and strategically crafted by him through his performances during his presidential bid. However, JFK did not contribute much to the civil rights movement per se (). JFK did not produce many historical achievements in his term, which includes civil rights achievements (). Many experts even argue that the crucial Civil Rights Act of 1964 would’ve been either watered down or not even passed if JFK was not assassinated (). But shockingly, he is still seen in the eyes of many Americans as one of the main propellers of the advancement of civil rights. However, this perception combined with his assassination helped his successor, LBJ, to advance the civil rights movement. The perception of JFK as an avid advocate of the civil rights movement was more impactful than what he accomplished, but the perception he created helped propel movement to new heights.
The speaker of the first speech is John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States. President Kennedy was instrumental in improving relations with the USSR and improving civil rights in the US. He is seen as one of the greatest presidents America has ever had.