1. Challenging Segregation
Chapter 29 Section 2
Part 2

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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”

13. 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

14. 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