The Fifteenth Amendment granted African-American males the right to vote in the late 1800s. However, through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, southern states were able to effectively discourage African-Americans. It was not till 1965, almost a century later, that the Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson; enforcing the Fifteenth Amendment. But acquiring the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an enduring task for African-American citizens and supporters. A perfect example is “Bloody Sunday”, where a group of activist, in their attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama protesting for the rights of voters, were beaten and left for dead of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
Even if individuals could read the administrator in charge could create impossible questions for an individual to answer before being able to register. With the Voting Rights Act of 1965 the literacy test and any discriminatory voting, practices were outlawed as prerequisites of voting. The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 enforced this amendment. The 19th amendment granted women the right to vote.
The NAACP became the most powerful Civil Rights organization in U.S and wanted to challenge segregation in the courts. Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional and overturned “separate but equal.” Civil Rights Movement ended legal segregation, protected Civil Rights, increased pride and racial identity and African Americans were able to vote, go to college. Political Change: Immigration
One of the most important of these changes was the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. According to James Gregory, this movement was driven by a variety of factors as well, including the frustration of African Americans with the “slow pace of change” and the “growing sense of frustration and anger” among young people in the wake of the Vietnam War (Gregory, 242). The movement was also driven by the efforts of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, who galvanized support for the cause of racial
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was created, by Lyndon B. Johnson, to further enforce the 15th Amendment of the United States. The purpose of the act was to ensure democracy within the United States by giving everyone an equal ability to practice their rights. Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have been denied of their basic freedoms as citizens. The Voting Rights Act made it harder for states to further deny African-Americans, and other
To accomplish social equality and justice has been a long controversial issue in U.S. history. Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be understood as a tremendous accomplishment today because it not only represent a symbol of the triumph of fighting social injustice, but also open the first gate for African American and minority to strive for more political power in order to create a “great society.”
While it was important to build economic stability within the African American community, voting rights were necessary to achieve political and social equality, and
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was not the only law that benefited African Americans and showcased their success with the uplifting movement. After the violence in Selma the government felt like they had to do something to protect their citizens, so they decided to write the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to help African Americans officially earn the right to vote (Landau). This was a major decision for the government but overall it gave the movement the recognition it deserved for creating such a powerful impact on treatment of African Americans. Thanks to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 many African Americans were able to vote and many African Americans were also put into office because of this one law (Landau 39). The United States would now have African Americans in powerful and important positions in the government instead of just whites.
In conclusion, both the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 were successful in their mission. The VRA not only opened doors for African Americans but also other minorities such as Latinos, Asian/Native Americans. By giving more power into the hands of federal government, ensured that states act in a manner that followed laws and regulations. Similarly, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 increased minority population in the US. This meant now there were more minority representatives in the office who would then vote in their interests and also minimize chances of passing laws that would harm minority groups.
After a fifty mile fight, Selma to Montgomery, African Americans finally reached the finish line, and voting was achievable for all. It was not easy though. After 250 years of slavery the civil war made everyone free. The reconstruction followed, in efforts to make things equal for everyone, but Plessy v. Ferguson was a setback. It started the “separate but equal” concept, and life was segregated for 60 years.
On august, 6, 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed a law that made it easier for African Americans to vote in the US elections. Up until that time, some community’s attempted to discriminate against black people and members of other minority group. They required voters to take written tests or pay special taxes four the write to vote The Voting Rights Act of 1965 put an end to voter discrimination.
People always want to demand their essential rights from government’s restriction by passing new laws. There was a period when people demanded their rights in the 1900s. Within the United States, most African Americans’ rights were denied by state governments. Hence, in the 1960s, they took a stand on requiring their rights through the Civil Rights movement around the country. During this movement, the Voting Rights Act was significant and for the reason is that this act gave African Americans a chance to participate in US politics by their votes.
The civil rights movement was a significant struggle for African-Americans in the mid- 20th century, consisting various social movements to bring about change, end racial discrimination and ultimately gain rights equivalent to those of whites. Albeit there were many enactments that asserted the rights of blacks throughout the epoch, as it was evident and still is today, laws cannot force society to change their view on people and it solely suppressed the racial attitudes that existed. The Watts Riots were a turning point in the civil rights movement because it challenged the non-violent philosophy, converted it from this idea of gaining rights to economics in the ghettos and contributed to white backlash. The Second Great Migration and
During the civil rights movement from 1945-1968, activists and the federal government took the action they thought to be most effective to reach their specific goals. Many activists took the ways of protests, like boycotting public transportation, to show their dissatisfaction with the current laws and regulations in place. The federal government often times relied on the passage of laws, including the Civil Rights act of 1964, to end segregation. The use of politics to express the concerns of both parties was a way for the government and the people to work together. The civil rights movement brought challenges that were faced by activists, and the federal government through the seperate ways of protesting and the passage of laws, along with
In order to look at the impact that the Civil Rights Movement had on society today it is important to first look back at where it all began. The author will base her opinion around the change in American culture, as America is one of the most powerful countries in today’s modern society and many countries follow the lead of America. The fight for justice and equality went on for many years in America and it has become one of the most well known movements in history. The note to take action all started when the African-American citizens decided that they