Preview

Selma Alabama Civil Rights Movement Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
798 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Selma Alabama Civil Rights Movement Essay
This essay will discuss the connection between the protest movement in Selma, Alabama and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In addition, it will cover the roles in which the Alabama law officials, the national media attention, and the demonstrators from out of state played in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. In Selma, Alabama in 1965 the Voting Rights Campaign protest had begun, leading to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The campaign was to help register African Americans in Selma so they could vote. SNCC had been working in Selma for over a year trying to register people to vote. After being unsuccessful the leaders of SCLC were called in to help. The presents of Martin Luther King opened up an out revelry between SCLC and SNCC. After putting aside …show more content…
The violence of the "Bloody Sunday" and of Reeb's death led to a national turmoil and some acts of civil rebellion, directed towards the Alabama state and the federal government. The protesters demanded protection for the Selma marchers and a new federal voting rights law to enable African Americans to register and vote without harassment. President Johnson, already having his administration working on a voting rights law, held nationwide televised joint assembly of Congress on the 15th of March to ask for the bill's introduction and passage. After the demands for protection from the marchers, Governor Wallace still refused to provide protection, which lead President Johnson. The third march started on the 21st of March. Over 2,000 soldiers of the U.S. Army, 1,900 members of the Alabama National Guard under Federal command, were sent to provide protection. The marchers arrived in Montgomery on the 24th of March. Continuing on to the State Capitol on the 25th of March the marchers had grown to 25,000 people support of voting

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Selma depicts the tactics that were used to ensure the Civil Rights of African Americans. The setting is in Selma, Alabama 1965. During the Civil Rights Movements, different tactics were used to ensure the rights of African Americans as stated in the constitution. African Americans were denied the right to vote, for example Annie Cooper. She was told to recite the preamble and answer questions. Martin Luther King Jr decides to take a stand and fight for the rights of African Americans. MLK took a peaceful stance using non violent tactics. On the other hand, Malcolm X used violent tactics. Martin Luther King Jr. started off with a speech to inspire other black people that they needed to join forces to fight for their rights. They had a non violent…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the 1960s America was undergoing civil and political unrest regarding the prejudice and suffrage of the black people, who had earned their freedom from slavery centuries ago. Multiple confrontations between black civil rights protesters and state police groups had occurred beforehand, but one particular attack on the protesters in Selma, Alabama pushed the ordeal into a serious state. This state of strife caused the President at the time, Lyndon B. Johnson, to urge Congress to force the end of racial segregation by allow all men of color to vote. Expressing this through his speech “We Shall Overcome”, delivered to Congress on March 16, 1965, Johnson was able to sway congress to pass the Voting Rights Act thanks to his clever uses of rhetoric.…

    • 336 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The violence of the "Bloody Sunday" and of Reeb's death led to a national outcry and some acts of civil disobedience, targeting both the Alabama state and federal governments. The protesters demanded protection for the Selma marchers and a new federal voting rights law to enable African Americans to register and vote without harassment. President Lyndon Johnson, whose administration had been working on a voting rights law, held a historic, nationally televised joint session of Congress on March 15 to ask for the bill's introduction and…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From March 7-21 of the year 1965, a historical event and major progress was made in the fight for equality amongst races. For 14 days, supporters of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Well shall overcome” campaign joined in to literally march for their freedom. They walked through violence, brutality, fear, and exhaustion, but most importantly, they walked with pride and in peace. The oppressed people of America, which were at that time, the African Americans, quite nobly took a stand and spoke out against all of the injustice they and their families have endured, and I can’t help to greatly admire them for that. Overall, the march from Selma to Montgomery was truly an inspiring turning point in history.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The city of Albany was heavily segregated and was on a collision course with the Civil Rights Movement. It was in Albany where Martin Luther King suffered one of his greatest defeats. The movement in Albany was started and organized by SNCC. After the federal mandate to end segregation in interstate travel, SNCC sent student protestors to bus stations to challenge local authorities. The initial strategy applied by SNCC was to put as much pressure on the authority in Albany until there was a clear direction to move toward. Overall, the movement lacked organization and sense of direction. The movement in Albany asked for Dr. King to come and assist their efforts. This was a double edged sword for the Albany movement because when Dr. King came to assist in places where it was needed, he brought organization and numbers with him; However, when he would have to leave to assist other cities throughout the South, organization would collapse.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In January, 1965, approximately 350 blacks marched to the Dallas County Courthouse on Alabama Street, Selma, Alabama to register to vote, a peaceful demonstration to exercise their civil rights yet they were met with police brutality and injustices. The legendary Mahatma Gandhi quoted “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will”. Similarly, the same can be said about the will, determination, and perseverance of several civil rights activists and the people of Selma, Alabama who fought against racial injustices, segregation, and inequality to advance their cause, i.e. voting rights through moral suasion. Selma, the seat of Dallas County is located in the heart of Alabama’s black belt with a population of approximately…

    • 198 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In 1965, The Voting Rights of 1965 Act was signed by Lyndon B Johnson. The Act was built to examine the state and local barriers that were interfering with the Africans Americans rights to vote. There were decades of harassment and discriminatory ways that people tried to stop African Americans from voting. When the people of the Equal Rights movement tended to march from Alabama to Washington D.C. they were intruded by state troops with tear gas and whips after they refused to turn back. This led to Lyndon B. Johnson to want to pas the Law that would officially settle it all. This act banned Literary tests, and other means that tried to interfere with the act of voting. Lyndon B Johnson also signed the Act with Martin Luther King Jr. During…

    • 164 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Birmingham in the 1960's

    • 1117 Words
    • 5 Pages

    "Birmingham is the most thoroughly segregated city in America," was the verdict of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the SCLC began the Birmingham demonstrations (King 53). These were a series of protests carried out by Birmingham blacks under the direction of the SCLC from April 3 to May 10, 1963. These acts of protest were against segregated public accommodations in downtown Birmingham and against employment discrimination. The city was the largest and richest in Alabama, but African Americans benefited little from its wealth. Most were denied the right to vote, were banned from using city recreational facilities, and were relegated to the area 's most menial and lowest-paid jobs. Most humiliating of all, in downtown stores, they were forced to use "colored" water fountains, dressing rooms, restrooms, and lunch counters (Birmingham Civil Rights Institute). King responded to the voting issue by saying, "Of the 80,000 registered voters in Birmingham, prior to January 1963, only 10,000 were African Americans" (King 35). This was only one-eight of the voting population in the city.…

    • 1117 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death of John F. Kennedy in 1963 changed the political temperament of the nation. The new President, Lyndon B. Johnson, utilizing a blend of the national state of mind and his own political shrewdness pushed Kennedy’s motivation; most notably, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What's more, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had an immediate effect on the government, states, and neighborhoods. A result of the Voting Act, occurred on August 6, 1965, when approximately one-quarter of a million new African American voters were registered, 33% by government analysts. Within four years, voter enlistment in the South had dramatically increased. In 1965, Mississippi had the most astounding black voter turnout, 74%, and had more chosen dark pioneers than whatever another state. In 1969, Tennessee had a 92.1% voter turnout, Arkansas 77.9%, and Texas…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A comparison and contrast of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to that of 1964…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Selma is fifty percent Negro but only two percent can vote” (Selma). Africans Americans were taking note that their denial to vote was an issue. Sadly, blacks could not get on jury who were responsible for making decisions because they were not even allowed to vote. “Not a single black person for one hundred miles [was] registered to vote” (Selma). This proved to be a major issue because ultimately blacks were not involved in making any of the decisions. The power remained in the hands of the white people similar to what happened prior to post…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In reference to allegations that the protests were precocious, Martin Luther King states several reasons why this was a suitable time for direct action. Originally, discussions with Birmingham's economic public did not give correct results and suppliers did not remove mortifying racial signs from the stores. This became one of the motives that led to the rally. The Easter holiday was the second major shopping season and was elected by the protesters for direct-exploit program because it was the best time to bring burden on the merchants. King explains that the action was stalled several times due to impending elections but demonstrators felt that the action could not be delayed any longer. Then, as Martin Luther King makes clear, protesters did not give a new Birmingham government time to react, because the newly elected Birmingham mayor Albert Boutwell was a segregationist just like his forerunner, Mr. Connor. Finally, King expresses that African Americans were waiting for this instant for more than 340 years and that it was more than sufficient.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Voting Rights Dbq

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As President Lyndon B. Johnson stated after signing the voting rights act on August 6th, that day was “a triumph for freedom as huge as any victory that has ever been won on any battlefield”. Not only did this act abolish literacy tests, it abolished the last barrier for voting other than age. As Johnson also stated, “to seize the meaning of this day, we must recall darker times,” referring to the years of slave owning, when African Americans…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Essay On The Movie Selma

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages

    After watching the extraordinary movie “Selma” i have nothing but positive feedback. This movie touched base on how hard and how awful segregation was in Selma, Alabama. The issue that was focused on was on how blacks weren't able to vote because of how limiting the system was. This is a true story, and it really opened my mind on the topic of segregation. It was also focused on MLK Jr. and the courageous movement he led. His movement consisted of non-violent protest and inspirational meetings amongst blacks all over the country.…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Freedom Summer.

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages

    During the summer of 1964, thousands of civil rights activists, many of them white college students from the North, descended on Mississippi and other Southern states to try to end the long-time political disenfranchisement of African Americans in the region. Although black men had won the right to vote in 1870, thanks to the Fifteenth Amendment, for the next 100 years many were unable to exercise that right. White local and state officials systematically kept blacks from voting through formal methods, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, and through cruder methods of fear and intimidation, which included beatings and lynching. The inability to vote was only one of many problems blacks encountered in the racist society around them, but the civil-rights officials who decided to zero in on voter registration understood its crucial significance as well the white supremacists did.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays