Johnsons civil rights Flashcards
why was civil rights relevant to johnson
he had promised racial equality in his great society
why did johnson want to pass civil rights legislation (3)
- bound by kennedy legacy and duty
- told roy wilkins (NAACP leader) no longer bound by Texas so could serve all of America
- would help south to reintegrate (help them economically since it would be easier for af-ams to get jobs)
how did the civil rights act 1964 get passed? (4)
-black activists drew attention to injustices
-the NAACP, trade unions and churches, lobbied congress incessantly
-important congressional leaders, like democrat Hubert Humphrey, worked hard on the bill.
-Kennedy legacy
what did johnson do to pass the civil rights bill
- appealed to self interest of Southerners (working)
- spent time breaking filibuster
- emotive appeals
what did johnson say to the Dixiecrats to convince them to approve bill
-that the civil rights bill would level the playing field so there was no excuses left for their inferiority.
how much of the population supported civil rights legislation
68%
- harder for congress to ignore now
- increased after Birmingham and back activists drawing more attention to it - media
hat did the civil rights act 1964 do?
it made all forms of de jure segregation a federal crime, meaning perpetrators would no longer benefit from the bias of the state courts
it further school desegregation and set up the equal opportunity commission
how many African Americans were on the voting roll in 1964
in 1964, only 6% of African Americans were on the voting rolls.
Why did MLK go to Selma to campaign voters rights
knew the sheriff Jim Clark would react brutally like Bull Connor had
- national publicity and revitalise movement for SCLC and CRM
Explain events in Selma
- unsuccesful at enrolling black voters at Selma Courthouse despite federal judge ruling
- incidents made headlines - trooper shot black youth shielding mother
- King arrested so that he could publicise the event - his letter written in jail got in NYT
- organised march with SNCC to Montgomery
- Bloody Sunday
- sympathetic interracial marches in cities in north
what happened on bloody Sunday
Selma to Montgomery march
- state troopers attacked marchers with clubs and used tear gas
- national criticism and led to sympathetic marches in other cities such as Chicago
explain Voting rights act of 1965
- disallowed literacy tests and questions on state constitutions
- replaced racist southern white registrar with federal registers
what 3 things helped pass the voting rights act
- MLK gained national and international attention in Selma
- communist propaganda emphasised inequality demonstrated at selma
- johnson did a famous speech to persuade congress (equality and freedom and constitution )
how many were arrested in selma?
3000, including King
live snakes were thrown at them
what was the effect of the voting rights act? (3)
dramatic effect in the south,
- by late 1966, only 4 of the old confederate states had fewer than 50% of their black people registered.(Alabama)
-Black people elected to office in the south increased dramatically
-political gain for Johnson’s party, the loss of white voters was made up for new black voters
by 1980, the percentage of af-ams registered to vote was only —% less than whites
7%
limitations of the civil rights acts
- many continued to suffer in poor housing, poor schools, poor job opportunities etc
- inability to get out of poverty trap
- doctors in 1969 reported that black children in missisipi were so hungry they were eating tree bark
what 2 changes limited Johnsons role in passing further legislation after 1965
- cost of Vietnam war - prioritised
- decreased white sympathy after the riots and black violence
how did congress respond to decreased white sympathy after 1965 (2)
1966 rejected administration civil rights bill which would’ve prohibited housing discrimination
joked that Johnsons 1968 bill to help black children in ghettos suffering from rat bites a ‘civil rats bill’ and that he should send an army of cats
how many whites opposed new civil rights legislation in 1966 after the riots
90%
why did an alternative black power movement grow? 2
percentages that compare to whites for both points
-ghetto poverty, only 30% of ghetto pupils finished high school compared to 60% of white children
-50% of unemployed Americans were black even though they only made up 15% of the population
what was the criticism about the key role of SCLC?
-SCLC criticised as being only for the white mans religion
-some people questioned why MLK was desperate to gain white approval and was so desperate to be integrated
how had CORE tried to improve ghetto life?
-core established freedom houses in the ghettos to provide information and advice on education, employment and health
why did Johnsons want integrated housing
- would exacerbate racial tensions
- immoral
why did congress pass the 1968 fair housing act
after kings death they felt they had to respond with a legislative tribute
explain the 1968 fair housing act
prohibited discrimination in sale or rental of houses but was difficult to enforce due to white opposition
who was part of black separatist tradition
Malcom X and Nation of Islam
- considered all whites evil
what were criticisms of the aims of black power?
-some aims were unrealistic e.g talks of a separate back nation within the USA
-some ideas equated with socialism (Black Panthers) which made them unpopular to many as the was too close to communism
-numerous accusations of sexism by black power leaders
what did SNCC activists criticised SCLC and King of
leaving a ‘string of embittered cities’ by their policy of extracting maximum media attention from an event
Why did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam?
he was suspended by Elijah Mohammed (leader) after his comments about Kennedy’s death and he learnt Elijah’s extra-marital affairs and left in 1964
when was Malcolm x assassinated?
February 1965 on stage by two gun men from the NOI.
when was the watts riot?
august 1965
what were the aims of Nation of Islam (4)
- provide African-Americans with an alternative to the white man’s Christian religion (Malcolm X said Christianity was a religion ‘designed to fill [black] hearts with the desire to be white … A white Jesus. A white virgin. White angels. White everything. But a black Devil of course’)
-increase black self-esteem
- keep white and black Americans separate (Malcolm X mocked African-
Americans such as King who dreamt of integration, saying, ‘Imagine, you
have the chance to go to the toilet with white folks!’)
-encourage African-Americans to improve their economic situation.
when did the movement Nation of Islam gain publicity
in 1959 television doc “the hate that hate produced” - national prominence and white hostility
positives of NOI (3)
membership then two positives
- Membership ranged from 25,00 to 250,000 by 1969
- Promotion of self-defence, racial pride and economic self-help
- Creation of many businesses led to rare employment opps in ghettoes
achievements of Malcom x (3)
- Drew attention to ghetto conditions
- Inspired new generation of black leaders such as SNCC’s Carmichael and CORE’s McKissick and Black Power Movement in general (first prominent advocate of separatism)
- In later life, claimed went to extremist position to make King’s demands more acceptable to whites
what was the Organisation of Afro-American Unity
founded by Malcom X in 1964 and aimed to unite af-ams and promote black social, political, and economic independence
Thurgood Marshall on NOI and Malcom X
ran by a bunch of ‘thugs’
asked what did he achieve?
criticism of Malcom x (3)
- Supported black violence (e.g. 1965 Watts riot)
- Never established orgs as effective as those he criticised (e.g. NAACP and SCLC); he believed King did not do enough for north and was too friendly with whites
- stayed in safety of majority black Harlem while king put his life in danger
What did King do in 1966 and what was his aim
organised campaign in Chicago
moved family into ghetto apartment in Chicago to bring light to situation
problems in ghettos (say 4)
- poor amenities and accommodation
- hard to break out of cycle of poverty
-32% of students finished high school - ghetto schools did not provide solid foundation for good jobs
- some ghetttos had 50-70% unemployment
how did king compare the ppl in Chicago to those in south
never seen a ‘mob as hostile and hate-filled’
why did whites in suburbs not want af-afms to join
- property price would go down
- local school deteriorate
Causes of urban riots:
3
- Ghetto problems – civil rights movement of 1954-65 effected change in South, did nothing for problems in the north; prompted King to focus on ghettos, but campaign in Chicago (1966) was not successful with little impact
- Conditions – in early 60s, 46% of unemployed Americans were black
- 32% of ghetto pupils finished high school, compared to 56% of white children
when were the urban riots
1964-8
what was the first major race riot and when
Watts in Los Angeles in 1965
What happened in the Watts Riot
(1965)
suffered de facto segregation
34 deaths;
over $40 million in damage costs largely to white-owned businesses; gained national attention
after this riot most cities had one
apart from Watts Riots, what were two others, explain them
- Newark riot – began amid rumours of police brutality against a black taxi driver
- Detroit – 40 died, 5000 arrested; LBJ had to send federal troops to settle Detroit
which riot did LBJ had to send federal troops to settle
Detroit
what was the response of white people to the watts riot
gun sales to white people soared.
what did the FBI think caused the riots (3) vs Johnson (2)
misery of ghetto life
hot summer heat
communist agitation
Johnson :
poverty and despair
8% of white ppl lived below poverty line but — of af-ams did
30%
black unemployment was twice that of whites at –%
7
why weren’t the riots just about unemployment
80% of those arrested had well paid jobs
What was the Kerner Report and what did it recommend ?(and when was it issued)
in 1967 LBJ commissioned an investigation into the causes of the riots
it recommended greater federal expenditure, however, tis was politically unrealistic
what did the kerner report find as the causes of the riots
- blamed white racism as greatest factor
- absence of black policemen
- police abuse and discrimination
- lack of improvement in Johnsons policy
3 reasons for the eruptions of riots in 1964-8 since ghetto misery was longstanding, and couldn’t be the main reason
MLKs death provoked major riots in 100 cities
-great society rhetoric raised hopes that weren’t met
- impact of change in south that didn’t acc improve conditiions in the north
reaction of the whites to the riots - why did they not want to help (3)
kerner report suggested increased expenditure but whites didn’t want to pay increased taxes
didn’t want to ease ghetto overcrowding by moving af-ams into suburbs - property prices plummet plus hold back their kids in school
saw af-ams as wanting handouts
how did af-ams see the whites after the riots
unsympathetic and uninterested - led to more radical movements such as black power that didn’t let whites in
What two civil rights movements were radicalised in the 60s
SNCC and CORE
what CRM groups did ghetto residents no longer like and why
NAACP and SCLC because they knew little about ghetto life and were ineffective
what 2 changes did SNCC and CORE make in 66 and 68
no white members
non violence inappropriate if black ppl needed to defend themselves
who was Stokey Carmichael
SNCC leader - radical
what was the Meredith march and when was it
1966
James Meredith embarked on a 200 mile walk from Memphis to Jackson but on the second day was shot and unable to continue. Civil rights leaders vowed to complete it for him.
who joined in the 200 mile walk in honour of James Meredith
SCLC and SNCC. Stokely Carmichael determined to express the discontent of the black groups at failings of the national government
what about the Meredith march alarmed King?
the increased militance of the SNCC meant King feared it would alienate white support and Johnson
who was arrested at the Meredith march
Carmichael - when he was released he urged the burning of courthouses and demanded black power
what did king chant in response to black power
freedom now
what did king say about the phrase black power
it was a ‘slogan without a programme’
when was the black panther party successfully established - who established it
1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale
what did the black panther movement seek (5)
- federal govt compensation to af-ams for enslavement of ancestors
- freedom for incarcerated af-ams and black duties when tried
- black exemption from military service
-no police brutality - improvement in ghetto living
how many members did the black panthers have
no more than 5000
what did black panthers do for ppl (4)
- set up clinics in ghettos to advise on health, welfare and legal rights
- ran lessons to educate ppl in their beliefs
- childcare for working mothers and free food
- breakfast programme set 1700 meals weekly
what did black panthers do that was illegal
advocate police killing and confrontation
petty crime
targeted by police and fbi from 67-69
why did black power decline after peaking in 1970 (3)
- lost white liberal funding after SNCC and core excluded whites and became militant
- female supporters found their role limited and turned to feminism
- too ill defined and poor organisation + many disagreements
define militant
‘SNCC and CORE became more militant’
favouring confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause.
criticism of black power movement
significantly reduced white sympathy that was integral to reforms and progress of CRM activists
