America: The Civil Rights Act And The Voting Rights Act

Question 1

When was the Civil Rights Act passed?

Answer 1

1964

Question 2

when was the Civil Rights Act ready to come before congress but didnt? Why?

Answer 2

-November 1963
-JFK was assassinated in Dallas in the same month

Question 3

Who succeeded JFK and why did this help the CRA pass?

Answer 3

-Vice president Lyndon B. Johnson under the US constitution had to succeed JFK
-he was well equipped to get the legislation through congress, he had more experience with congress than JFK had had

Question 4

Name 3 tactics Johnson used in order to pass the Civil Rights Act in 1964

Answer 4

-he exploited the shocked mood of the US after the assasination of JFK
-he was very persuasive and managed to get some republicans to vote for the bill as he knew he wouldnt get the southern democrats
- he got statements from living ex-presidents supporting the principle of the bill

Question 5

Which living ex-presidents did Johnson get statements supporting the CRA from?

Answer 5

Truman, Eisenhower and Hoover

Question 6

What did southern representatives do in response to Johnson trying to pass the CRA in 1964?

Answer 6

Tried to block it with a filibuster

Question 7

In the House of Representatives, what were the figures for democrats and republicans who voted for an against the CRA in 1964?

Answer 7

-152 democrats in favour
-96 democrats against
-138 republicans in favour
-34 republicans against

Question 8

What was the proportion of Senate votes that led to the passing of the CRA in 1964?

Answer 8

73-27 in favour of the bill

Question 9

Summarise the provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

Answer 9

-there was a ban on exclusion from restaurants,stores and other places
-the Attorney-general could file lawsuits to speed up desegregation
-the FEPC was set up on a permanent legal basis
-there would be no discrimination in any federal aid programs
-there would be an equal opportunities commission

Question 10

What was the FEPC and what did it being set up on a permanent legal basis mean?

Answer 10

• Fair Employment Practices Commission
• no racial, sexual or religious discrimination would be lawful

Question 11

Why was the Equal Opportunities Commission set up?

Answer 11

To enforce the provisions of the act

Question 12

When was the Voting Rights Act passed?

Answer 12

August 1965

Question 13

What led to the Voting Act in 1965 ?

Answer 13

The freedom summer

Question 14

Why did the Freedom summer lead to the Voting Rights Act?

Answer 14

• it demonstrated (along with other protests) that even after the CRA, blacks were still being prevented from exercising their right to vote
  -Johnson was determined to act as JFK had in Birmingham
  -public opinion was one that it was likely to succeed
  -hence the Voting Rights Act 1965

Question 15

Summarise the provisions of the Voting Rights Act 1965

Answer 15

-abolished literacy tests
-made manoeuvres that had prevented large numbers of blacks in the south voting, illegal

Question 16

What changes to the Civil Rights movement were happening at the same time that the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965?

Answer 16

• some SCLC & SNCC members were growing impatient with non-violence and many were disappointed with continuing southern resistance
• SCLC & SNCC members also increasingly pessimistic about southern whites ever accepting them as equal
• MLK would never experience the same degree of success after the act passed
• the CRM entered a difficult period after the Act

Question 17

What were the terms of the Voting Rights Act 1965?

Answer 17

Those registering to vote should not have to:
-demonstrate any educational achievements
-any knowledge of any subject
-interpret materials
-prove they are of sound moral character