the responses of the state and federal authorities Flashcards
How did the Cold war Between USSR and America impact Eisenhower’s action/ responses to Civil Rights ?
He was more aware of the impact of coverage of Segregation in the media and how this would reflect on the world stage in light of the Cold war.
Why was Eisenhower able to be more ambitious compared to Democrat presidents in his approach to Civil Rights ?
This is because he didn’t rely on DixieCrat states for votes or electoral success
Give a quote of Eisenhower to show how he feared large scale intervention on the subject of Civil Rights.
“Difficult through law and force to change a man’s heart”
What is Miscegenation ?
A historical term used to describe the marriage or mixture of people from different racial backgrounds.
Give a quote of Eisenhower to show how he feared Miscegenation (marriage or mixture of people from different racial backgrounds)
“A black man should not court my daughter”
What meeting/ event in 1957 inspired Vice President Nixon to work hard on a new Civil Rights bill ?
When Nixon met MLK jr. at Ghana’s Independence day celebration in 1957
When was Eisenhower’s first Civil Rights act passed ?
1957
What was significant about the passing of the Civil Rights act in 1957 by Eisenhower ?
It was the first Civil Rights legislation since reconstruction
Give 3 reasons as to why Eisenhower was prompted to introduce the Civil Rights bill to congress and was later passed in 1957 ?
1) Nixon’s meeting of MLK jr. at Ghana’s independence day celebration in 1957 inspired Nixon to work hard on the Civil Rights bill
2) Eisenhower’s discovery that only 7000 out of Mississippi’s 900,000 African American population were able to vote
3) political capital that could be earned before the 1956 election
Give 3 ways that African Americans were continually discriminated against in regards to voting.
1) impossible literacy tests
2) ‘grandfather clauses’ which said you could only vote if your Grandfather was a registered voter
3) random opening times for voting registration offices
Give 3 limitations to the 1957 civil rights bill that was enacted.
1) faced many challenges from Dixiecrats part of the Democrat party
2) largely watered down
3) By 1960, only 3% more people in the South could vote (adding to small 20% of Black voters registered to vote by 1957)
Give a specific example of opposition to the Civil Rights Bill of 1957 from Dixiecrats who were part of the Democrat Party.
Strom Thurmond, staunch segregationist, filibustered the bill, speaking for over 24 hours in order to try and prevent it from being passed
Give 2 positive outcomes of the Civil Rights act of 1957.
1) It established a United States commission on Civil Rights
2) Established A civil Rights section of the United States Justice department
By 1960, how many more African Americans in the South could vote as a result of the 1957 civil Rights act ?
Just 3% more
What as the overall purpose of the 1957 Civil Rights act ?
to increase the number of registered Black voters in the Southern states by protecting their right to vote
Other than only 3% more African Americans being able to vote in the South as a result of the Civil Rights act 1957, give another way it can be said that the act was largely a failure.
This is because another act in 1960 was passed in order to try and deal with discriminatory laws and practices in the segregated South
Give a limitation of the 1960 Civil Rights act.
It was watered down and little was done to enforce it
Despite the flaws of both the 1957 and 1960 Civil Rights act, both set a ___________ for other Presidents to use legislation to intervene in Civil Rights.
precedent
Give 4 examples of state responses to Civil Rights.
1) ‘Massive resistance’ policy created by Virginia state government and promoted by virginia senator, Harry F Byrd, to block integration
2) Orval Faubus sending national guard to block Little Rock 9 entry
3) Browder V Gayle district court ruling in Alabama, ordering desegregation of buses in Alabama (1956)
4) Southern states launching of a legal offensive on the NAACP, Spring 1956, putting pressure on members to leave it
Give 4 examples of Federal responses to civil Rights.
1) Southern Manifesto, 1956, signed by 101 representatives
2) passive of Civil Rights act 1957 and 1960
3) Eisenhower sending of 101st airborne to Little Rock 9 to escort students in
4) Brown V Board of Education ordering desegregation of schools. Brown II “With all deliberate speed.
