Section 2: the contribution of the federal powers to the progression of american civil rights in the 1960s

Question 1

What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Answer 1

• passed under president Johnson’s government
• ecplicitly outlawed all tests that prevented any american citizen from voting
• gave the federal government the power to oversee voting reigstration across america
• ended the ability of local governments to deny black citizens their right to vote
• more effective than previous legislation

Question 2

What was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Higher Education Act 1965?

Answer 2

• passed under president johnson’s government
• increased the funding given to education
• money was targeted to help the poorest states, schools and students
• helped southern states, schools with a high proportion of black student and individual black at college or university

Question 3

Who was President Johnson and how committed was he to the campaign for civil rights?

Question 4

How far did Johnson use his presidential power to help the campaign for civil rights?

Answer 4

• as an experience politician he knew how to exploit Congress to ensure that the Bill passed e.g. he persuaded important members of congress such as the republican leader in the senate Everett Dirksen to support the bill
• he persuaded congress that the Act would be a fitting legacy for kennedy

Question 5

How far did the role of Congress help towards the campaign for civil rights?

Answer 5

• civil rights campaigns had exposed the horrors of segregation and racial violence and had won over public suport to such an extent that congress could no longer oppose the civil rights bill
• congress was persuaded by johnson
• following the 1964 COngressional elections some conservative southern democrats were replaced by more liberal democrats who were sympathetic towards civil rights

Question 6

What evidence is there to suggest that congress helped the campaign for Civil RIghts?

Answer 6

• in 1964, 73/100 of america’s senators and 289/435 member of Hous oof Representatives voted in favour of the Civil RIghts Act
• congress support was essential for civil rights legislation however the southern states had a significant voice in congress and as a result southern senators and congressmen obstructed civil rights legislation 1945- 1960

Question 7

What evidence is there to suggest that president johnson helped the campaign for civil rights?

Answer 7

Civil rights act of 1964