The Civil Rights Movement Goals & Achievements II The Civil Rights Movement Goals & Achievements II. - Protection of Voting Rights - (Lecture 4.4)

A good question from a student: “Why did some white Americans support desegregation, even though they benefitted from racial segregation?” (better schools, better parks, better jobs, etc.) What do you think? Watch President Kennedy’s 1963 speech. How does JFK answer this question?

What is the best summary of JFK’s speech? It is the American way to work for yourself. We should all work for our own personal freedoms and not worry about others. If there are citizens in our country that are not free, then none of us are truly free. Change comes slowly. We should be patient and wait.

Voting = Power in a Democracy

Voting Rights - Review 1865 – African-American citizenship. 1870 - 15th Amendment banned racial discrimination in voting. BUT: discrimination continued! HOW? 1920 - 19th Amendment = ??? 1964 – 24th Amendment – Abolished poll tax

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Begun by JFK, but signed into law by LBJ Outlawed: Discrimination in applying voting requirements Segregation in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, parks, and all other public places Discriminatory employment practices based on race, religion, gender or national origin.

“Majority” vs. “Minority” the “majority” = the group of people with largest numbers OR most power in a society. a “minority” = a group of people with smaller numbers OR less power in a society  examples in U.S. history?  examples in your country?

FYI: Requirements to Vote in the USA You must … … be a U.S. citizen … be at least 18 years old … register to vote before the election

Fear still prevented blacks from registering to vote

Whites’ Fears: Losing political power (not # majority in many S. states!) Black retaliation if they gained power

Blacks’ Fears Police brutality Economic retaliation (employers / landlords) KKK attacks

Civil Rights Workers demanded enforcement of equal voting rights. 1964 – “Freedom Summer” in Mississippi 1965 – March from Selma to Montgomery , Alabama “Bloody Sunday”

1964

Who was SNCC? A group of black students who had organized the Freedom Rides of 1961. A mixed-race group of students who had organized the Freedom Rides of 1961. A group of white students who protested school integration in the south. A group of black students who were the first to attend a white high school in the South.

Who was SNCC? SNCC = Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee A mixed-race group of students who had organized the Freedom Rides of 1961. SNCC = Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee

1964

Voter Education & Registration

Many local law enforcement officials still refused to let blacks register to vote.

Civil Rights Workers Were Murdered!

Freedom Summer = Success!

1965 – March from Selma to Montgomery , Alabama

Goal: Deliver a petition to Gov Goal: Deliver a petition to Gov. Wallace asking for protection of voters

Police brutality (beating protesters) 1965 - “Bloody Sunday” Police brutality (beating protesters)

1965 - “Bloody Sunday” Tear Gas

1965 - The 3rd March from Selma To read more about the Selma Marches , click here!

1965 – Voting Rights Act Every American citizen has the automatic, constitutional right to vote. You only have to prove age & citizenship. No tests have to be passed No requirements have to be met (Including English language!)

Homework For Friday: Be ready to tell your Civil Rights Story (A B or C) without the paper. For Monday: Watch the LBJ video online. Complete the comprehension questions before lecture. (You may download the transcript from ANGEL to help you understand the speakers in the video.)

VIDEO: LBJ – The “Civil Rights President” First, review this information on the worksheet: People you will see Vocabulary you will hear The song sung by the marchers & quoted by LBJ Questions you should listen for answers to You can watch the video at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/video/lbj_18_qt.html#v243