'The decisions of the Supreme Court were the most important influence on the development of civi

The Supreme Court was the highest ruling authority, Their decision, once it was made, was law and could not be overturned.

In 1896, the Plessey vs Ferguson case was brought before them. They demonstrated that they were the most important influence by ruling that segregation was legal and did not break the 14th Amendment because it was 'separate but equal'.

This demonstrated that because all of their members were white conservatives, the Supreme Court was the most important influence and could hinder the development for Civil Rights. this was because once a decision was made, it could not be changed. A precedent had been set . This mean that future cases would unlikely to also succeed in demanding equal rights because the Court would refer back to Plessey vs Ferguson.

The Supreme Court continues to demonstrate their influence over development for Civil Rights by their ruling of the Williams vs Mississippi case of 1898. They decreed that to be allowed to vote, blacks had to pass the literacy test. AS the test was previously made virtually impossible to answer correctly,the decision shows that the Supreme Court did not see Black Americans as citizens because they were not allowed a say in their country's future.

In addition to this, it must also be noted that the Supreme Court could also overturn its own rulings to influence the development of Civil Rights. In the case of Brown vs Topeka in 1954, they were able to positively influence the Civil Rights by ruling that segregation in schools was detrimental psychologically to black children.

This greatly influenced the development of the Civil Rights because not only did it overturn the precedent set by Plessey vs Ferguson but it implied that segregation full stop should not be allowed.

However, it could be said that a more influential power on the Civil Righst movement was the power of the President.

In 1964, the Civil Rights Bill was passed by Lyndon Johnson which was an immensely important milestone in the development of Civil Rights.

It prohibited discrimination publicly, which the Supreme Court could not do, as the Supreme Court failed in the desegregation of school to set a time limit, which the Southern states used to their advantage. When it was noted that the Civil Rights Act did not allow voting, Johnson then passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965. This not only developed the Civil rights by allowing voting, but it also led to blacks being voted into office.

On the other hand, it can be said that the presidential power was not the most important influence on the development of Civil Rights because that would depend on who the President was.

Presidents like Nixon, who openly supported the white supremacist group ROAR demonstrated tat not all presidents would help to positively develop the Civil Rights.

Reagan also undid a lot of the positive influence past President gave to the development of Civil Rights by making public racist remarks that accused black women of being 'welfare queens'. He also appointed judges who did not help to positively develop the Civil Rights movement by ruling in favour of white supremacy.

It is also important to take into consideration the fact that although Presidents and the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the development of Civil Rights, the reason behind it was the influence of organisations such as the NAACP, UNIA, SCLC and CORE.

The NAACP was set up in 1909 by William DuBois and Ida B Wells. It was an important influence because it would fight legal battles for blacks.

For example, it was they who had advocated for the desegregation of schools during the 'Brown' case. They had carefully picked Linda Brown to assure their chance of succeeding. Regardless of the Supreme Court as an influence, it is impossible to see how the 'Brown' case would have been victorious without the strength of the NAACP and its developments of Civil Rigths.

However, not all organisation's led campaigns were successful in developing Civil Rights. Often this change would not come about due to disputes between different groups. An example of this is when MLK tried to challenge the ghetto problems in Chicago. Rather than influencing the Civil Rights, the different groups did not like MLK's actions and decision to leave the ghettos and no longer supported him.

Lastly, it can be argued that the Second World War was the most important influence on the development for Civil Rights.

Confidence rose in the NAACP such that due to a threatened march on Washington, Roosevelt sign Executive Order 8802 on the 20th of June, 1941, which for the first time, allowed fair pay in the workplace.

The Double V Campaign was born which also reflected their success int eh development of Civil Rights.

The 1940s became the decade where black Americans became the most affluent.

Their success in the war culminated int eh desegregation of the Army in 1948. This was a huge influence on the development of Civil Rights because by desegregating the most segregation institution in America, it provided the blacks with new hope. This would later be seen in the explosion of challenge discrimination such as the Freedom rides, sit-ins and education that were to come as a result of this catalyst.

in conclusion, I do not think that the Supreme Court was the most important influence on the development of Civil Rights, but organisations like the NAACP. this is because they unwaveringly fought against discrimination such that the Supreme Court had to rule in their favour. Had there have been no organisations to do just that, then the Supreme Court would not have willingly ruled in their favour put of the goodness of their hearts.

Were it not for the leaders of the organisations such as MLK meeting with presidents, then the [residents owudl not ahve passed acts in their favour.

Were it not for the existence of the NAACP in the first place for the confidence of the lacks to be directed in, then the successes of the Second Wprld War would not have influence future development.

The black Americans needed the NAACP to make something out of their confidence and to challenge discrimination because without their help, I don't think that they could have individually influenced the developments of the Civil rights with as much signifiance.

Organisations helped to change people's opinions too, due to the television and media attention they were given such that even Nixon or Reagan would not change back.

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