Role of Congress

Question 1

Civil Rights Act of 1957 (Eisenhower)

Answer 1

Focused on voting rights, made it illegal to prevent black American’s from registering to vote. However small penalties didn’t act as a deterrent.

Question 2

Civil Rights Act of 1960 (Eisenhower)

Answer 2

Required local authorities to keep records on voter registration, only increased the proportion of black voters by 3%

Question 3

Kennedy 1961-63

Answer 3

Sympathetic to civil rights, he appointed 5 black judges to federal courts. Promised a civil rights act after Birmingham but didn’t do anything until Washington march.

Question 4

Civil Rights Act 1964 (Johnson)

Answer 4

Outlawed segregation of any public place.

Question 5

Voting Rights Act 1965 (Johnson)

Answer 5

Outlawed literacy tests.

Question 6

Civil Rights Act 1968 (Johnson)

Answer 6

Outlawed any form of discrimination in sale or rental of housing. An attempt at addressing the issue of ghettoization.

Question 7

Reasons for change in attitude?

Answer 7

Campaigns exposed the horror of segregation, Campaigns won massive support. Johnson knew how to exploit Congress, in the 1964 elections some conservative Southern Democrats were replaced with more liberal ones. Johnson persuaded Congress that it’d be a fitting legacy for Kennedy