Johnson's Contribution To The Civil Rights Movement
On November 2nd 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and his vice-president Lyndon Johnson took over. Before he died, Kennedy put in a lot of the necessary groundwork to try and achieve the Civil Rights Act, which although it didn't happen in his presidency, he did a lot more for than any president before him. Johnson wanted to honour Kennedy's memory by making what he had begun to work for a reality, Johnson used the death, but in the best way he could.
Straight away, Johnson began to push for the legislation, and in January 1946 he met with civil rights leader to discuss not only his dedication to the cause but also his plans for progress, which involved actions such as the act itself, providing equality in schools and hospitals, …show more content…
Wallace said that the state was “financially unable” to mobilize the national Guard to protect the marchers, when Johnson tried to get him to allow African Americans to hold the mass march after the request was upheld in federal court. After this- two days later- Johnson went more external to try to publicise and push the Voting Rights Act, by addressing a joint session of Congress which was televised, in his speech he expressed that this must be everyones cause and not just those who are facing the discrimination, he ended with the rallying slogan of the Civil Rights Movement “we shall overcome” showing his total support and involvement, as well as proving he is one of …show more content…
On August 6 1965, the act was passed, suspending devices such as literacy tests that were aimed to prevent African Americans from voting. Johnson didn't stop at passing acts, at one speech he said “we seek not just freedom but opportunity... not just equality as right and a theory, but equality as a fact and a result” this proved that even after his declaration of two acts, Johnson among many citizens of the USA – both black and white – believed that still, not enough had been done, but he was still willing to continue to fight even though he had legally
Straight away, Johnson began to push for the legislation, and in January 1946 he met with civil rights leader to discuss not only his dedication to the cause but also his plans for progress, which involved actions such as the act itself, providing equality in schools and hospitals, …show more content…
Wallace said that the state was “financially unable” to mobilize the national Guard to protect the marchers, when Johnson tried to get him to allow African Americans to hold the mass march after the request was upheld in federal court. After this- two days later- Johnson went more external to try to publicise and push the Voting Rights Act, by addressing a joint session of Congress which was televised, in his speech he expressed that this must be everyones cause and not just those who are facing the discrimination, he ended with the rallying slogan of the Civil Rights Movement “we shall overcome” showing his total support and involvement, as well as proving he is one of …show more content…
On August 6 1965, the act was passed, suspending devices such as literacy tests that were aimed to prevent African Americans from voting. Johnson didn't stop at passing acts, at one speech he said “we seek not just freedom but opportunity... not just equality as right and a theory, but equality as a fact and a result” this proved that even after his declaration of two acts, Johnson among many citizens of the USA – both black and white – believed that still, not enough had been done, but he was still willing to continue to fight even though he had legally