AA essay plans, MLK most successful AA individual leader

Question 1

political For. 1

Answer 1

MLK most successful due to achieving equal voting rights with the passing on the VRA 1965.
provided federal oversight over voting registers and removed voting qualifications
However, success is diminished due to the circumstances of having a sympathetic president and supreme court, compared to previous times.

Question 2

Political Against.1

Answer 2

Du Bois can be seen as the most successful, founder of the NAACP who made significant legal progress throughout the time period.
Quinn vs US 1915, outlawed the ‘grandfather clause’
However limited success due to de facto discrimination and hostile president and climate for AA.

Question 3

Political Against.2

Answer 3

Thurgood Marshall can be seen as very important as he also made significant legal progress in civil rights with the NAACP.
Smith vs Alwright 1944, outlawed white primary in Texas, registered AA went from 2% -12% between 1940-47 in Texas.
magnitude of success is much smaller then MLK and the VRA and therefore not as significant

Question 4

Social For.1

Answer 4

MLK most important leader due to achieving integration on buses
Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955-56, significant as it was a stepping stone into achieving the end of segregation nationally.
However without parallel legal work by NAACP, Browder vs Gayle 1956, MLK wouldn’t of achieved the same level of success.

Question 5

Social For.2

Answer 5

MLK used excellent strategies to expose de facto segregation in the south via the media. Birmingham campaign 1963.
Results in turning point in JFK’s attitude towards AA civil rights and has influence on the passing of the CRA 1964.
However, can be argued that significance to improve AA civil rights comes from presidents as only when the attitudes of JFK and LBJ changed was there significant change / turning points.

Question 6

Social Against.1

Answer 6

Du Bois worked tirelessly to end segregation and lynchings. NAACP, Brown vs Topeka 1954, most significant step towards the end of segregation as it overturned the policy created by Plessy vs Ferguson, ‘separate but equal’
However, significance is limited as de facto segregation was still common in a lot of places and due to limited support from presidents to help enforce integration and anti-lynching bills diminishes Du Bois Success.

Question 7

Economic Against.1

Answer 7

MLK was unsuccessful in improving AA economic civil rights. Chicago Campaign 1968, no support from urban ghetto dwellers unlike in the south where he was able to gather a lot of support.

Question 8

Economic Against.2

Answer 8

Booker T Washington had greater success as he focused on economic improvements and practical training. Tuskegee Institution, provided vocational training and education to AA.

Question 9

Economic Against. 3

Answer 9

A Philip Randolph had the most success in improving economic civil rights. Actions of applying pressure to Roosevelt led to the establishment of A fair employment practices commission.
results in 25% increase in those working in iron and steel industries. and Employed in government services 50,000- 200,000.
However, it can be argued that Randolph’s success rooted from the climates of an inter war.