Civil Rights Laws, 1964-1965 (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note
Exam code: 1HI0
Summary
President Kennedy was voted into office after a campaign that promised to improve Civil Rights for Black Americans. His attempts to pass a Civil Rights Act through Congress in 1963 were frustrated by Dixiecrats who voted against it. However, Kennedy’s death, in November 1963, at the hands of a sniper led to a change of mood. This enabled President Johnson to pass the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Although this was progress, it was not perfect and further protests and violence led to Johnson passing the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
How did President Kennedy help the civil rights movement?
As part of his campaign to become President, Kennedy had promised to support the civil rights campaign
Once President, he became even more committed to improving the lives of Black Americans after witnessing the brutality in Birmingham
He appointed Black Americans to important roles, sent US marshals to protect the Freedom Riders and soldiers to defend James Meredith
He attempted to introduce a Civil Rights Act in 1963 but was unable to get Congress to approve it
Any further attempts by Kennedy to improve the civil rights movement were ended by his assassination on 22 November 1963
How did President Johnson help the civil rights movement?
The death of Kennedy both horrified and unified America’s politicians
President Johnson argued that a new Civil Rights Act was the greatest wish of the murdered president
This, along with Johnson’s Southern background, was enough to overcome the opposition of the Dixiecrats and get the Civil Rights Act through Congress in 1964
The Civil Rights Act, 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was celebrated as a great victory by many campaigners
However, it left others greatly frustrated as it failed to enforce desegregation and end discrimination
Successes | Failures |
|---|---|
Ended segregation in public places including hotels, restaurants and theatres | The ban on voter registration tests was not enforced by federal laws - meaning states could still prevent people from voting through tests |
Furthered school desegregation | Did not completely end school desegregation as ways were found around the laws |
Introduced the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to end discrimination in the workplace | The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission only dealt with complaints |
The Voting Rights Act, 1965
The failure of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to completely ban voting literacy tests led to the protest march and violence in Selma
This caused President Johnson to pass the Voting Rights Act which was quickly enacted by Congress.
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