The Great Society of Lyndon Johnson and Civil Rights

Agenda 1. Bell Ringer: What court case permitted separate but equal schools to exist in 1954? 2. Notes: LBJ and the Great Society, Civil Rights to 1960 (20 minutes) 3. Virginia’s Massive Resistance Analysis (15 minutes) 4. Civil Rights Timeline (15 minutes) 5. Central High School Video Clip (10 minutes) 6. Review Guide (15 minutes)

LBJ and the Great Society He began his “war on poverty” in 1964 with an array of programs and support services to promote greater opportunity. Economic Opportunity Act- Begins the War on Poverty Elementary and Secondary Education Act- provided federal aid to schools throughout the country. Civil Rights Act- Ended segregation in public places, and banned employment discrimination. Voting Rights Act- suspended literacy tests and attempts were made to register qualified voters in the south regardless of race. Medical Care Act- Created Medicare and Medicaid

Early Civil Rights Brown v. Board of Education- Charles Hamilton Houston as well as Thurgood Marshall and Oliver Hill would lead the charge for equal conditions for African Americans. A study done by Kenneth and Mamie Clark would claim that minority groups felt inferior since they were segregated. A unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, schools would be required to desegregate at all deliberate speed. 1955, Rosa Parks and her refusal to move from her seat would begin the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement, with Martin Luther King Jr. as their leader.

Little Rock, 1957 The Little Rock Nine were African American students trying to desegregate Central High School. The first day they tried to attend a white mob gathered at the school, telling their kids “don’t let them in” Eisenhower would have to send in troops to ensure their safety for the duration of the year as desegregation began in the area. Similar instances would also occur at traditionally white colleges across the South.

Virginia’s Massive Resistance From 1959 to 1964, Virginia would shut down schools in the region and run private white academies. The most famous was in Prince Edward County, VA, where they shuttered all of the public schools and created new private schools for white students. Once schools reopened in 1964, they adopted “Freedom of Choice” Plans Unfortunately, that would lead to intimidation and violence in the community. Schools in the South would not be fully desegregated until 1969.