The role of the federal government Flashcards
When was Dwight D. Eisenhower president?
1953-1961
What were Eisenhower’s beliefs on how the position of black americans would improve?
He believed that the position of black people would improve of its own accord over time.
What event reflects Eisenhower’s beliefs on how the position of black people would improve?
His reluctance to to become involved in Little Rock in 1957 reflects how he believed that the position of black people would improve of its own accord.
When was the first Civil Rights Act that President Eisenhower passed?
1957
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 focus on?
Voting rights
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 propose?
-To create a Commission of civil rights- bi-partisan committee which would monitor the voting rights of black americans.
Individuals found guilty of preventing black americans from registering as voters would face a fine of $1000 or up to 6 months in jail.
When was the second civil rights act that President Eisenhower passed?
1960
What did the Civil Rights act of 1960 do?
It required local authorities to keep records of voter registration, this allowed the commission, created in the civil rights act of 1957, to monitor black voter registration more accurately?
What was the increase in the proportion of black voters by 1960 due to Eisenhower’s two Civil Rights Acts?
3%
When was John F. Kennedy President?
1961-1963
What were John F. Kennedy’s views on Civil Rights during his election campaign?
- he was sympathetic towards civil rights
- He made a publicised phone call to Coretta King while her husband was in jail during the sit-in protests of 196.
- He also promised a civil rights act to end segregation.
What did President Kennedy do for civil rights early in his presidency?
- At first he was slow to use his power to help black people because he needed the support of southern white politicians in congress.
- He appointed 5 black judges to the federal court including the NAACP’s chief council Thurgood Marshall.
- He created the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity (CEEO) which was designed to ensure equal employment opportunities for people who worked for the federal government. However not many black people worked for the federal gov.
What did the Birmingham Campaign of 1963 make President Kennedy do?
It forced him to show decisive leadership and fulfil his promise of a civil rights act.
What did the March on Washington in 1963 force President Kennedy to do?
It forced him to throw his weight behind a civil rights bill.
When was Lydon B. Johnson president?
1963-1969
What did President Johnson see Civil Rights as part of?
As part of the ‘Great Society’ which was designed to make America a fairer place.
What was President Johnson’s record on Civil Rights before becoming president?
- He had a mixed record on civil rights.
- As a senator he supported both President Eisenhower’s Civil Rights Acts.
- However he also played a key role in watering down President Eisenhower’s Civil Rights Acts.
When was President Johnson’s first Civil Rights Act?
1964
What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 say?
- It outlawed the segregation of any facility or public place.
- It gave the commission on civil rights the power to enforce desegregation.
- It mad the Fair Employment Practices Commission permanent.
When was President Johnson’s Voting Rights Act?
1965
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 say?
- It outlawed all tests that prevented any American Citizen from voting.
- The act gave the federal government the power to oversee voting registration across america.
When were President Johnson’s Elementary and Secondary and Higher Education acts?
1965
What did the 1965 Education Acts do?
- They increased the funding given to education.
- Money was targeted to help the poorest states, the poorest schools and the poorest students.
when was President Johnson’s Fair Housing Act?
1968
What issue did the 1968 Fair Housing Act try to adress?
The issue of ghettoisation
What did the 1968 Fair Housing Act do?
Outlawed discrimination of any form in the sale or rental of housing.
What was the problem with the 1968 Fair Housing Act?
It gave the government no new powers to enforce the law so the Act’s impact was limited
in 1964 how many senators and how many congressmen from the House of Representatives voted in favour for the Civil Rights Act?
- 73 out of 100 senators
- 289 our of 435 from house of representatives
Why did Congress’s attitude towards civil rights legislation change?
- Grass roots campaings exposed the horrors of segregation and racial violence
- The civil rights campaign had won over public support to the extent that Congress could no longer oppose a civil rights bill.
- Johnson was an experienced politician and knew how to exploit congress to ensure that the bill passed.
- Following the 1964 congressional elections some conservative southern democrats were replaced by more liberal democrats.
- Johnson persuaded congress that the Act would be fitting as a legacy for Kennedy.
