Johnson African Americans

Question 1

What developments had been made in the Civil Rights Movement?

Answer 1

• Success in targeting Birmingham, where there was a strong racist reaction, brought maximum media coverage was a tactic in the Civil Rights Movement
• Momentum started by the March on Washington meant there was pressure on Johnson to pass legislation, and the movement looked to continue this pressure

Question 2

How had the black vote changed?

Answer 2

• In MS only 6% of African-Americans were registered to vote. In summer 1964 SNCC and CORE organised for white student volunteers to join black activists in local campaigns
• Thousands volunteered, received training then went to MS to teach literacy and civis at Freedom Schools and register black voters
• 2 white volunteers and one black activist disa[[eared and were then found dead by FBI
• Over 1000 arrests of campaigners, 37 churches bombed
  -17,000 black residents tried to register, only 1600 approved

Question 3

What divisions were there in the movement?

Answer 3

• Tension between SNCC and King’s SCLC
• SNCC disliked the media focus received by King and SCLC accused them of creating tension and problems in cities, then leaving them unresolved
• Nation of Islam was shaken by Malcom X leaving

Question 4

What was Johnson’s role in passing the Civil Rights legislation?

Answer 4

• Oversaw passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which faced a 54-day filibuster attempt by Dixiecrats
• The bill had a 68% approval rating
• Made all de jure segregation a federal crime
• The Voting Rights Act (1965) removed literacy tests
• 1968 Civil Rights Act- outlawed discrimination in the sale or rental of houses

Question 5

What impact did MLK have on the Civil Rights movement during Johnson presidency?

Answer 5

• King headed to Chicago in 1966, but the campaign was poorly planned and had little impact
• Following the shooting of James Meredith in 1966, King joined other leaders completing his march. SNCC leader Carmichael, a Black Power advocate, was on the march
• King planned a protest in Washington and received encouragement from Bobby Kennesy but was assassinated before it took place

Question 6

What impact did the urban riots have?

Answer 6

• Riots of 1965-72 were a symptom of this; 250 deaths, 10,000 serious injuries and 60,000 arrests. In 1965, there were $40 million in damages
• After the Detroit riots, the Governor of Illinois was commissioned by Johnson to complete a report on the cause

Question 7

What did Governor Kerner’s report say were the reasons for the urban riots?

Answer 7

• 12 reasons, 3 levels of intensity:
• Political practices; Unemployment; inadequate housing
• Then: inadequate education, poor recreational facilities, ineffectiveness of political structure
• Finally: white attitudes; discriminatory administration of justice; inadequate Federal programmes
• Report concluded the US was becoming two unequal societies, one white and one black