The Achievements of the Civil Rights Movement

The Goals of the Civil Rights Movement

The Reconstruction Amendments 13 th Amendment: bans slavery Fulfilled (more or less) 14 th Amendment: citizens get “equal protection of the laws” “due process of law” Unfulfilled Segregation Lynching Unequal schools Job discrimination 15 th Amendment: voting rights for male citizens Unfulfilled Poll taxes Literacy tests Grandfather clauses

Three big aims Civil rights Desegregation Equal treatment Voting rights Economic equality

The importance of the federal government Southern state governments resisted integration Massive resistance to school desegregation George Wallace (Alabama): “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever”“Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” Federal intervention could help protect African Americans’ rights Eisenhower calling in troops to protect Little Rock Nine JFK called in federal marshals to protect Freedom Riders But activists wanted a bigger federal law

Why might the Kennedy administration be reluctant to pass a civil rights law?

Sources of federal reluctance Divided Democratic party Northern Democrats like JFK were sympathetic to civil rights Southern Democrats (“Dixiecrats”) like George Wallace supported segregation The filibuster Senate rule that requires a 2/3 vote to end debate on a bill Southern Senators successfully filibustered previous civil rights bills JFK wanted to achieve equality by compromise, not by force

Why did the federal government act?

Civil rights activism Montgomery bus boycott – Sit-ins – 1960 Freedom Rides – 1961 March on Washington – 1963

Violence by white segregationists : Protesters at sit-ins and Freedom Rides attacked

Violence by white segregationists May 1963: Bull Connor unleashes dogs and fire hoses on protesters in Birmingham, ALdogs and fire hoses on protesters

Violence by white segregationists June 1963: Medgar Evers assassinated

Violence by white segregationists September 1963: Segregationists bomb a church in Birmingham, killing four girls

Lyndon Baines Johnson November 22, 1963: JFK assassinated in Dallas Vice-President Lyndon Baines Johnson sworn in as President Democrat from Texas Former Senate majority leader Better at getting members of Congress to vote his way

Legislative Achievements

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Bans segregation on the grounds of race at any “public accommodation” Hotels, parks, pools, restaurants, theaters, etc. Includes privately owned property catering to “the public” Bans employers and labor unions from discriminating by race, gender, religion, or nationality Bans use of federal funds for discriminatory programs Provides for federal enforcement of the law

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Bans literacy tests Gives the federal government power to oversee voter registration in areas with a history of discrimination Authorizes investigations of poll taxes Result: despite state resistance, massive increase in African American voting among the South

Mission accomplished? 13 th Amendment: bans slavery Fulfilled (more or less) 14 th Amendment: citizens get “equal protection of the laws” “due process of law” Better protected by Civil Rights Act 15 th Amendment: voting rights for male citizens Better protected by Voting Rights Act But there’s still massive economic inequality between whites and blacks