1. Kennedy, Johnson, and Civil Rights Chapter 29, Section #2

2. Kennedy and Civil Rights 1960: John F. Kennedy elected President Kennedy won African-American support Robert Kennedy and King’s wife got him released from jail Had difficult time dealing with southern democrats Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Pressured Fed. Gov’t to act Freedom Rides: wanted to desegregate interstate buses Kennedy sent Fed. Marshalls to protect riders Gov’t then desegregated buses

3. Protests in Birmingham African-Americans protested: Wanted to desegregate public facilities Better jobs and housing Called in Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Fire hoses and dogs used on protesters, some were children Country was horrified at images Protest successful

4. The March on Washington Because of Birmingham, more people supported civil rights laws August 28, 1963: 250,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C. King: “I Have a Dream” Speech President Kennedy promised support

5. New Civil Rights Laws Kennedy killed on November 22, 1963 Lyndon Johnson became President Promised to fulfill Kennedy’s wishes July, 1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed: Banned segregation in public places Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to stop job discrimination Banned different voting standards for whites and blacks.

6. Fighting for Voting Rights 1964: 24 th Amendment Passed Ended poll tax 1965: Voter registration drive: “Freedom Summer” Northern college students helped in south Bombed, beaten, arrested, murdered Selma, Alabama 1,200 African-Americans registered

7. Fighting for Voting Rights (cont’d) August, 1965: Voting Rights Act passed Banned: Literacy Tests Threats of Violence Federal officials register voters

8. Johnson and the Great Society Great Society Programs to help needy End discrimination Health Insurance for elderly (Medicare, Medicaid) Money for education Environment protection laws Clean Water and Clean Air Acts

9. Division in the Civil Rights Movement Some wanted Civil Rights Movement to be more aggressive While no laws in North discriminated against blacks, whites would refuse service to many Protests in Chicago April 4, 1968: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated Riots broke out, 45 people died Non-violence rejected by many Black Panthers Malcolm X