To What Extent Was Lyndon Johnson Responsible For The Civil Rights Movement

Lyndon Johnson was a critical and notable President responsible for the juncture of the civil rights movement for African American people in the USA. He was a Texan who became president in 1963, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Johnson didn’t just focus on legislation, like many before him, but knew it was vital to first modify the already existing preconceptions around African Americans. On account of his authentic motivation, he willingly risked his own image for the advancement of the civil rights movement. Moreover, as an authority figure, he utilised his power to implement evident and lawful change in the USA. Although gaining civil rights was inevitably a task of many over a lengthy duration of time; it was essential to

As an authority figure, Johnson was constantly in the public eye, and his political decisions relating to civil rights, led him to be subject to intense criticism. Many claimed that he merely supported civil rights for publicity or to gain the ‘black vote’. Johnson gracefully endured these accusations, to do what he believed was right. His genuine catalyst in the movement can be demonstrated through his urgency to maintain the effort for civil rights, after the assassination of Kennedy. Despite the chastisement he received, Johnson strongly felt the need to continue and succeed in passing the civil rights bill Kennedy prepared. Other evidence of his authenticity includes: Johnson terminating unrelated bills to advance the civil rights bill, his history of working with social and racial minorities, attempting to eliminate African American unemployment during the Great Depression, his involvement in previous civil rights bills, and his words: “There is no cause for self-satisfaction in the long denial of equal rights of millions of Americans” after outbursts of racial violence in Alabama. He sacrificed his own public image and risked hurting his career simply to justify civil rights, although it would result in a loss of votes, making him a significant, creditable

The Civil Rights Act 1964 was the most arduous task in the civil right movement; it ‘gave the federal government the power to desegregate public accommodations, fight against workplace discrimination, speed up public school desegregation, mediate racial disputes, and restrict several other discriminatory practices’ (K. Germany, 2014). Similar bills had failed for 12 years previously, and after Kennedy’s death, the movement was at risk of being buried with him. However, Johnson saved and culminated it. Five days after the death of Kennedy he stated: “We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights... It is time now to write the next chapter, and to write it in the books of law.” In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed; “a rare and glittering moment in American history”- Irving Bernstein. Although some argue that Johnson deserves little credit for the bill, as Kennedy was the one to prepare it, in reality, Kennedy would’ve struggled immensely to pass an effective bill. A Southern senator during the 1960s stated: “You know, we could have beaten John Kennedy on civil rights, but not Lyndon Johnson.” Additionally, Johnson passed the Voting Rights Act, two integrational education acts, the Fair Housing Act, introduced Medicare; leading to a 50% reduction in African American infant mortality, and reduced African American unemployment by 34%.