Voting Rights Dbq
Congressman Gary Franks
December 16, 2013
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 & What Led To It As I sit down and analyze the events that had significance in the time period that was covered in our class, I continue to be amazed at the authorization of The Voting Rights Act in 1965. Its substance not only had such a tremendous impact on many citizens during that time, but it has continued to be a critical component in our government still till this day. For almost fifty years it has been amended and restructured to improve voting rights. The years after the Voting Rights Act has caused a lot of debate and much development to citizens voting rights in America, but many people don’t know what ultimately led to our country achieving this great …show more content…
State’s rights took over and became a staple throughout the early and mid 20th century. During that time all of the African-American members of Congress that were elected in the South quickly faded. We once had elected members of congress whom we voted for that would have enforced, protected, and created laws on behalf of black citizens. The Southern states would create legislation to enact “Jim Crow” laws upon the black community. Segregation was at its peak in the United States and the black community had been oppressed long enough. Conforming to the segregated South only caused hostility. The government that recognized blacks as members of society ignored them. In fact, the government that could protect the black community from the violence incurred by terrorist groups was often members of the groups themselves. Rebellion was the only and final option. In order for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be ratified by Congress, the black community needed to rebel against the “Jim Crow” laws of the South, the violence invoked by hate organizations, as well as (with assistance from white college students) the hypocrisies of the United States …show more content…
A Michigan State student said of their arrival in Mississippi, “The greyhound bus dropped us off on a residential street, we had no idea where we were. Almost immediately we found ourselves being circled by pickup trucks with rifles and big dogs in the back” (Aretha 47). Jane Adams, Southern Illinois University, stated, “Mississippi had geared up for war. They saw us as invaders coming in for a complete assault on their way of life. Everybody on both sides expected that there would be a bloodbath. We all expected we could die” (Aretha 47).
Two white men and a black man rebelling against southern society were easy targets for police. Two white men, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, as well as a black volunteer James Chaney were last seen going to a bombed out church to offer their condolences to the congregation and to offer their assistance with the investigation. The men disappeared after being singled out by the racist authorities. The next day, staff called police when the three men failed to check in at their
December 16, 2013
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 & What Led To It As I sit down and analyze the events that had significance in the time period that was covered in our class, I continue to be amazed at the authorization of The Voting Rights Act in 1965. Its substance not only had such a tremendous impact on many citizens during that time, but it has continued to be a critical component in our government still till this day. For almost fifty years it has been amended and restructured to improve voting rights. The years after the Voting Rights Act has caused a lot of debate and much development to citizens voting rights in America, but many people don’t know what ultimately led to our country achieving this great …show more content…
State’s rights took over and became a staple throughout the early and mid 20th century. During that time all of the African-American members of Congress that were elected in the South quickly faded. We once had elected members of congress whom we voted for that would have enforced, protected, and created laws on behalf of black citizens. The Southern states would create legislation to enact “Jim Crow” laws upon the black community. Segregation was at its peak in the United States and the black community had been oppressed long enough. Conforming to the segregated South only caused hostility. The government that recognized blacks as members of society ignored them. In fact, the government that could protect the black community from the violence incurred by terrorist groups was often members of the groups themselves. Rebellion was the only and final option. In order for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be ratified by Congress, the black community needed to rebel against the “Jim Crow” laws of the South, the violence invoked by hate organizations, as well as (with assistance from white college students) the hypocrisies of the United States …show more content…
A Michigan State student said of their arrival in Mississippi, “The greyhound bus dropped us off on a residential street, we had no idea where we were. Almost immediately we found ourselves being circled by pickup trucks with rifles and big dogs in the back” (Aretha 47). Jane Adams, Southern Illinois University, stated, “Mississippi had geared up for war. They saw us as invaders coming in for a complete assault on their way of life. Everybody on both sides expected that there would be a bloodbath. We all expected we could die” (Aretha 47).
Two white men and a black man rebelling against southern society were easy targets for police. Two white men, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, as well as a black volunteer James Chaney were last seen going to a bombed out church to offer their condolences to the congregation and to offer their assistance with the investigation. The men disappeared after being singled out by the racist authorities. The next day, staff called police when the three men failed to check in at their