Challenging Segregation Chapter 29 Section 2 Part 2

The Civil Rights Bill The bill would easily pass through the House where a majority of Republicans and Northern Democrats supported the measure The bill would be much harder to pass in the Senate A small group of determined senators would try to block the bill indefinitely

The Civil Rights Bill In the Senate, senators are allowed to speak for as long as they would like when a bill is being debated The Senate cannot vote on a bill until all senators have finished speaking Filibuster – when a small group of senators take turns speaking and refuse to stop the debate and allow a bill to come to a vote

The Civil Rights Bill Today a filibuster can be stopped if at least 60 senators vote for a cloture Cloture – a motion which cuts off debate and forces a vote In the 1960’s, 67 senators had to vote for a cloture to stop a filibuster

The Bill Becomes Law November 22, 1963 – president Kennedy was assassinated VP Lyndon B. Johnson b/c president LBJ committed himself fully to getting JFK’s program, including the civil rights bill, through Congress June 2, 1964 – President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Gave the federal govt. broad power to prevent racial discrimination in a number of areas Made segregation illegal in most places of public accommodation Gave citizens of all races and nationalities equal access to such facilities as restaurants, parks, libraries, and theaters

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Gave the attorney general more power to bring lawsuits to force school desegregation Required private employers to end discrimination in the workplace Established the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) To monitor the ban on job discrimination by race, religion, gender, or national origin

Voting Rights 1964 – 24th Amendment to the Constitution eliminated poll taxes Poll taxes – fees paid in order to vote Eliminated fees for federal elections, but not state elections When blacks tried to register to vote they were often attacked and beaten Several were murdered MLK decided to stage another dramatic protest

Selma Demonstrations MLK selected Selma, AL as the focal point for their campaign for voting rights Black people made up a majority of Selma’s population, but only comprised 3% of registered voters To prevent blacks from registering to vote Selma’s sheriff Jim Clark deputized and armed dozens of white citizens This group terrorized black people and frequently attacked demonstrators w/ clubs and electric cattle prods

Selma Demonstrations The demonstrations in Selma led to 2,000 black people being arrested by Sheriff Clark Including schoolchildren Clark’s men attacked and beat many of the demonstrators Selma, Alabama quickly b/c a major story in the national news

The Selma March MLK organized a “march for freedom” To continue the pressure on the president and Congress to act From Selma to the state capitol, Montgomery (about 50 miles) March 7, 1965 – the march b/g 500 protestors participated

The Selma March The protesters approached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which led outside of Selma Sheriff Clark ordered them to disperse The marches kneeled in prayer 200 state troopers and deputized citizens rushed the demonstrators Many were beaten in full view of the tv cameras This b/c known as “Bloody Sunday”

The Selma March The nation was stunned as it viewed the shocking footage of law enforcement officers beating peaceful demonstrators LBJ was furious 8 days later Johnson appeared b/f a nationally televised joint session of the legislature To propose a new voting rights law

Voting Rights Act of 1965 August 1965 – The Voting Rights Act was passed into law Authorized the attorney general to send federal examiners to register qualified voters Bypassing local officials who often refused to register black people Suspended discriminatory devices such as literacy tests By the end of the year 250,000 blacks had registered as new voters