11. Battling for Black Power

Information Because of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Johnson made great headway against racial discrimination at the time which proved to be one of america’s greatest problems. Slowly, segregation was declining, although not fast enough for the African Americans who had been through it all. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave the federal government more power to start desegregating schools and prohibit discrimination in all kinds of public accommodations and employment Although the problem of voting rights remained

Information The south manipulated the voting rights of african americans by coming up with new laws that were impossible for african americans to succeed. These were poll taxes that they could not afford, literacy tests that they could not pass, and barefaced intimidation that still disallowed african americans from the political process. The voting rights became the face of the black movement in the south in 1964. Soon, the 24th amendment abolished poll taxes in federal elections. A massive voter registration took place that summer called the “freedom summer” of 1964. After much tension between the north and the south and events involving murders and death, Martin Luther King Jr. finally made a change and resumed voter registration for black in alabama.

Information Because of the inappropriate actions of northerners assaulting King’s demonstrations of peace through their own use of violence. Johnson made a stand against these actions and hurried to pass and sign the landmarks Voting Rights of 1965 on August 6th. Which outlawed literacy tests and sent federal voter registrars into several southern states. Although the act did not end discrimination overnight, it placed an awesome lever for change and African american rights in america.

Source 1 O- federal government document C-the Voting Rights Act of 1965 P- To outlaw literacy tests V- Very valuable as it changed the course of segregation forever L- Bias

Source 2 O- a modern art piece C- MLK surrounded by words that describe him P- to honor MLK and recognize his actions V- very valuable as it recognizes MLKs history altering actions L- bias as it portrays MLK as all those words

Source 3 O- America, 1965 C- President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 P- prove the event to american citizens V- very valuable as it documents the event taking place for history to come L- cant see the actual document, no proof that it is the actual Voting Rights Act

Academic Questions How did MLK change the course of history forever? What strategies did he use? Analyze the effects of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.