What is important to note is that many laws and orders were enacted yet segregation, and racism persisted which further adds to the importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Eisenhower had a much different approach to Civil Rights than his predecessors. This was evident due to his laissez-faire attitude about civil rights. He believed that the racial situation could be solved by local communities without the federal government intervening, in particular the Executive Branch. It is with this prior knowledge that one can understand he did not focus the majority of his attention to this issue.
On July the 2nd 1964 Lyndon Johnson signs into law the historic Civil Rights Act in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House. Despite privately referring to African Americans as “niggers”. This was the act that made the biggest difference to the lives of black people in America. The Act outlawed racial discrimination and prejudice in employment. It also gave dark skin students the right to use any public services funded by the government, an example of this is schools.
Eisenhower is also the chief executive who proposed the Civil Right Act of 1957, 1958 and 1960. Contributor to presidenteisenhower.net and Eisenhower expert, Patricia Truslow, discloses information: “The 1957 Act created a civil rights office within the U.S. Justice Department and the Civil Rights Commission; both departments had the authority to prosecute discriminatory cases and voting rights intrusions”. This was the first time the issue of civil rights was received into the White House and the first civil rights bill approved by Congress since Reconstruction. “Following the 1957 Civil Rights Act, Eisenhower introduced another civil rights bill in late 1958, which was his reaction to a violent outbreak of bombings against churches and schools in the South”(Trueman). The Act of 1958 and 1960 made it illegal for any citizen, government, state or party to prevent anyone from registering to vote or voting.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, among other landmark legislation, were direct results of the activism and advocacy led by Dr. King and his contemporaries. These laws aimed to dismantle systemic racism and uphold the principles of the social contract by guaranteeing equal rights and protections for all citizens. However, it is important to acknowledge that Dr. King's work was not without challenges and opposition. He faced significant resistance, threats, and violence throughout his life.
During the mid-20th century, black individuals faced severe discrimination and injustice across America. However, the year 1954 proved to be a pivotal moment for the African-American community, as it marked the inception of the Civil Rights Movement. This peaceful movement, aimed at eliminating discriminatory segregation practices in the United States, was led by the distinguished civil rights advocate, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
During the 1950s and 1960s, America was a stormy place to reside in. There were many major events that occurred, including the the rise and fall of two major leaders in the African American community, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During this time period, America was involved in the Cold War, along with the war in Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement. In the Civil Rights Movement, two very influential men had two very different ways in which the country should be integrated.
This allowed for Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first bill towards this issue since the reconstruction era. o Inspired to continue in Kennedy’s footsteps, Johnson focused on improving many domestic issues that were occurring
The voting act was an act that supported that african americans have the right to vote like any white man. Another tactic used was the idea of Black Nationalism. African Americans united together was under Malcolm X and islam. Malcolm X gave African Americans a idea of black nationalism and that they are good and better than white people. Also SNCC, which used to have white members purged them all so that the African Americans can do things themselves without the help of any white men.
The Act got rid of segregation against blacks in white schools. It made people angry because they did not want black people going to the same school with them. This Act caused many fights and riots. The
Reason being, it not only brought the decision of Brown v. Board of Education, but it brought the Civil Rights movement. It also brought a new anti-Jim Crow attitude in federal government. The U.S Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, in 1964. This act was a law that ended segregation in many public accommodations, outlawed employment discrimination, and anticipated further major civil rights legislation (Journal of Pan African). The year after, 1965, Congress passed the first Voting Rights Act.
It established to tear down the restrictions that prevent African Americans to vote. It also states the prohibition of any discrimination when it comes to an individual of color when it comes to voting. This was all established by providing African Americans the 13th amendment. The 13th Amendment gave African Americans freedom to vote, but even after the abolition, they were still treated unfairly. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned all cases of discrimination towards race, sex, religion and etc (Document 4).
This was the act that helped enforce the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution. Before the Voter Rights Act African Americans, especially those living in the deep south, faced plenty of difficulties to voting which can include "poll taxes, literacy tests, and other bureaucratic restrictions to deny them the right to vote. " They were also faced with other non- legal issues such as harassment and violence when they attempted to vote. Because of everything that was going on at this time, there were few to none African American voters as well as any national or local political power. One event that specifically highlighted the attention of voting matters was the mass murder of voting rights activist in Mississippi, and the attack of non-violent marchers in Alabama.
It was 1954 when the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. In response to the decision of Supreme Court, civil rights protests increased steeply and spread throughout the nation. Eventually, civil right issue became a crucial issue in the election of 1960. Responding to the demand of African American for the civil right, two important figures, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson called for the right of African American, as presidents of U.S (Civil Right). John F. Kennedy is one who initially proposed the Civil Right Act in the Congress.
At first, the Presidents during the 1950s and 1960s wanted little to do with civil rights. The main political power involved was at the state level. In fact, “at least 136 new laws and state constitutional amendments designed to preserve segregation had been enacted. (p. 79). As stated before, real change can only come from the federal government.
The act was passed to give African Americans protection when voting because before, when they trying to vote people would kill them. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed because it abolished literacy tests and poll taxes designed to disenfranchise African American
