Bell Ringer Do you plan to vote when you turn 18? Why or why not? Would you still vote if it meant facing harassment or violence? **Protecting voter’s rights was an important aspect of the civil rights movement.**

Chapter 19; Section 3 The Political Response The Civil Rights Movement

March on Washington August 1963; over 200,000 people participated to focus attention on Kennedy’s civil rights bill

cloture In the Senate, a 3/5 th s vote that permits the ending of debate on an issue.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Law that outlawed discrimination in a number of areas, including voting, schools and jobs

Voting Rights Act of 1965 Law aimed at reducing barriers to African American voting, in part by increasing federal authority to register voters

Main Idea Continuous civil rights protests in the 1960s gradually made politicians respond to public opinion and move forward with strong civil rights legislation.

“If the President does not himself wage the struggle for equal rights—if he stands above the battle—then the battle will be inevitably lost.” John F. Kennedy; 1960

Kennedy on Civil Rights  Supported civil rights -Senator John F. Kennedy had offered help when MLK, Jr. was sentenced to a labor camp -caused blacks to vote for JFK in the 1960 election (v. Nixon) -moved slowly on civil rights issues once in office -appointed African Americans to important positions

-students demanded leadership within the movement from Kennedy -introduced a bill to prohibit segregation in public places, ban discrimination wherever federal funding was involved and advance school desegregation

Powerful southern segregationists in Congress prevented the bill from coming up for a vote.

Q: What did students demand from Kennedy? Leadership

The March on Washington  attempt to bring attention to the civil rights bill  August Over 200,000 people -Directed by A. Philip Randolph James BaldwinSammy Davis, Jr.Jackie Robinson

The March on Washington, cont.  peaceful and orderly  held hands and sang songs  speech delivered by MLK, Jr.: --“I Have a Dream”

“I Have Dream” 1:18 minutes

Q: Why was President Kennedy at first opposed to the march? He feared it would alienate Congress and attract violence.

Q: What was the purpose of the March on Washington? To focus attention on Kennedy’s civil rights bill.

 declared that passage of the civil rights bill would honor JFK’s memory --Passed in House but Senate started a filibuster (unending debate) --cloture was used to end the debate by a 3/5ths majority and move on to a vote Johnson on Civil Rights

Turning Point: The Civil Rights Act  Impacted voting, schools, jobs  gave Justice Department authority to push school segregation and voting rights cases  Included “titles” under the law

TitlePurpose Title IBanned the use of different voter registration standards for blacks and whites. Title II Prohibited discrimination in public accommodations such as motels, restaurants, gas stations, theaters and sports arenas. Title VI Allowed the withholding of federal funds from public or private programs that practice discrimination. Title VII Banned discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion or national origin by employers and unions. Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate charges of job discrimination.

Freedom Summer  Voter registration drive in Mississippi (1964) 1000 African American and white volunteers participated − Mostly college students KKK held rallies to intimidate the volunteers 3 activists went missing and were found buried James Chaney Andrew Goodman Michael Schwerner

− 80 mob attacks reported − Churches and homes burned or firebombed − Volunteers beaten and wounded by gunfire

Freedom Summer 1:45 minutes

The Democratic Convention (1964)  registered voters and SNCC members organized MFDP -Mississippi Freedom Democratic party -sent delegates to the DNC * Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer 1:06 minutes

 The Selma March many black southerners could still not obtain voting rights − police arrested people just for standing in line to register March organized by MLK, Jr. and other leaders to protest − They would walk from Selma, AL to the capital (Montgomery)--50 miles away

Armed troopers on horseback attacked the crowds with whips, tear gas and clubs. − TV images shocked viewers President Johnson placed the Alabama National Guard under federal control − Sent in to protect the marchers Thousands flocked to join − About 25,000 people by the time they reached Montgomery

The Selma March 6:37 minutes

Q: The visibility of civil rights protests led to advances in civil rights on both the local and national level. What did most of these protests have in common? They were peaceful; they challenged laws; they urged desegregation

The Voting Rights Act of 1965  Passed after Johnson promised a law would protect voting rights -over 400,000 African Americans registered in the Deep South the next year

Q: Look at the chart on p How many new African American voters registered in the South between 1960 and 1970? About 2 Million!

Q: How did President Johnson’s previous experience in Congress help to achieve passage of the Civil Rights Act? He used little-known procedures like cloture to pass legislation.