1. Buenos Dias You have a quiz today. Study the following items.
Why did people oppose poll taxes?
Jim Crow Laws vs Individual Rights
Washington vs Dubois
The Tactics used by MLK Jr.
The Tactics you think the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee would have used.
What role did media and public opinion play.

2. Government Action and the Civil Rights Movement
How the three branches of government responded to the movement.

3. Today’s Objective
Analyze the response of federal and state governments to the goals of the Civil Rights Movement.
Evaluate the impact of the Civil Rights Movement in expanding democracy in the United States.

4. Response of Government to the Civil Rights Movement
State Governments
Federal Government
State governments, especially in the South were still enforcing Jim Crow Laws which denied people voting rights and maintained segregation.
Some of them refused to comply with the federal governments new mandates against discrimination.
Began passing laws and taking action in response to pressure from Civil Rights groups.
When State governments began resisting those laws the Federal government had to step in and enforce them.
This way everyone was guaranteed their constitutional rights.

5. Government Executive Orders
Make laws and amendments to the Constitution.
Court Cases (Interpret the Law)

6. The Executive Branch and Civil Rights
On several occasions the President takes action in response to events of the Civil Rights Movement.
Roosevelt Issues an Executive Order to stop a threatened March on Washington by A. Phillip Randolph.
Truman desegregates the military after World War II.
Presidents also takes action when states don’t comply with Federal Law.

7. Civil Rights Under Roosevelt
Roosevelt wasn’t exactly strong on Civil Rights.
However, he does react when A. Phillip Randolph threatens to March on Washington because of discrimination in hiring for defense jobs.
Executive Order to prohibit racial discrimination in the national defense industry

8. Civil Rights Under Truman
Truman takes action after World War II
Groups like the Tuskegee airmen performed wartime service that increased calls for equality.
--Truman desegregates the military (1948)

9. Eisenhower Uses Commander in Chief title to enforce federal law.
Little Rock 9
Brown v. Board meant schools had to desegregate…but the governor of Arkansas, Orville Faubus, would not allow it.
In 1957, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Arkansas to make sure that 9 African American students could attend school in Little Rock

10. Little Rock 9

11. Little Rock 9

12. Problems in the Cities
By 1965, over 70% of African Americans lived in the cities. They faced problems with crime, lower paying jobs, segregated neighborhoods and overcrowding. This leads to:
The WATTS RIOT- In 1965, riots break out in the Watts neighborhood in L.A. There is $45 million in property damage, 34 deaths, and 900 injuries.
Similar riots break out in DETROIT in 1967.

13. The Kerner Commission
In 1967, LBJ asks OTTO KERNER to study the problems in the inner cities.
Kerner blames white society and racism for creating two societies in America– one WITH, and one WITHOUT.
Kerner recommends the creation of new jobs and more public housing.
LBJ never endorses this.

14. The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
But was this “equal”??…
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
-- Court says “separate but equal” facilities = legal
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) overturns Plessy, and says segregation is unconstitutional.

15. The Constitution is a Living Document
Plessy v Ferguson 1896
Brown v Board of Education
Supreme court interprets the constitution in a way that says segregation is legal.
“Separate but equal.”
Supreme court interprets the constitution in a way that says segregation is illegal.
Overturns “Separate but equal.”
The Constitution hasn’t changed in this situation. The values in society have, so we interpret the constitution according to our new values which say segregation is illegal. The Constitution can adapt to how we think, so we say it is a “Living Document.”

16. The Legislative Branch (Congress)
Congress begins passing laws.
To the left we see Johnson signing a law that Congress has presented to him.

17. Congress and the Civil Rights Movement
Congress passes the 24th Amendment which outlaws poll taxes.
This helps poorer people be able to vote.
By giving more people an opportunity to vote, the government is expanding democracy.

18. Congress and the Civil Rights Movement
Equal Pay Act of 1963
Outlawed differentials in wages based on sex.
The Women’s rights movement (feminist movement) was really getting strong at this time.

19. Congress and the Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Voting Rights Act of 1965
outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women.
ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public
outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S

20. Emmett Till

21. Goodman, Chaney, Schwerner, Freedom Summer and the assassination of Medgar Evers

22. King’s Assassination “Shot rings out, in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride…”
Early in 1968, MLK comes to Memphis to help with a garbage workers’ strike.
On the morning of April 4, 1968, King is assassinated by James Earl Ray while leaving his hotel room.
King’s assassination causes protests and riots in many U.S. cities.