Civil Rights Act

In November 1960, the Democrat John F Kennedy was elected President. He was the youngest President at 43 years of age.

Why was he popular?

He was young and charmistmatic

He had a glamorous wife

Stood up to the Russians-Cuban Missile Crisis

Inspired people to believe the government could solve many problems and that public service was worthwhile.

Inspired young people to get involved in politics or join the peace crops.

Aimed to help poor and black Americans. Raised the minimum wage. Prepared the way for new Civil Rights laws.

Unlike Roosevelt's New Deal, he had the New Frontier.

'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country'.

He was assassinated in November 1963. Vice President Johnson became President.

De Jure segregation remained in operation in many areas of life in the South.

Kennedy had championed the Civil Rights bills but it was still stuck in Congress.

However, the South was soon to be transformed by the Civil Rights Act 1964 and the Voting Rights Act 1965 which was passed after Kennedy's death.

Johnson's Great Society was aiming to end poverty and racial injustice.

The Civil Rights Act

Prohibited discrimination in public places (ended segregation and lynching)

Furthered school desegregation.

Gave the federal government the legal tools to end de jure segregation in the South.

Established an Equal Employment Commission.

Limitations

Did little to facilitate black voting

Still poverty in black American ghettoed areas.

King's Selma campaign

Despite the 1964 Civil Rights Act, little changed in Selma, Alabama.

King's organised a march. The response of the white police was brutal, with hoses and police dogs. This was known as Bloody Sunday.

Bloody Sunday resulted in 'a shining moment in the conscience of man'.

It prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act (August 1965)

Voting Rights Act

Provided federally appointed registrars to combat Southern White devices such as the literacy tests.

1966-Only 4 of the old Confederate States had fewer than 50% of their eligible voteers registered.

1968-Even Mississippi was up to 59%

1980-The proportion of registered black voters was only 7% less than the proportion of whites.

The number of black Americans elected to office in the South increased six-fold between 1965 and 1969 and then doubled between 1969 and 1980.