Voting Rights Act Free Essays

Movement was a social revolution that had been an Important part of the united States for decades, but it wasn’t until the sass’s that the movement actually began to actively affect the daily lives of Americans. Previously, the Civil Rights advocates had been attempting to simply integrate themselves into the whole of America as a result of the discriminatory mindset of many whites and the unfair treatment of blacks, but this goal shifted dramatically during the sixties as the movement pushed forward. These early Integration attempts Included non-violent ethos such as sit-ins, demonstrations In Birmingham, and the March on Washington, yet even though the protesters were persistent and used non-violent methods to accomplish this early goal, much of America still refused to listen. We will write a custom essay sample on Voting Rights Act or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in public accommodations, which was monumental to the Civil Rights Movement because It shattered the Jim Crow system. The year after, the Voting Rights Act was passed which prohibited racial delimitation while voting. However, even with the ability to fairly vote and with discrimination outlawed by the Civil Rights Act, blacks still found themselves in a seer position than most whites in society and began to strive for higher goals than just integration. Once they had more or less achieved desegregation, many blacks wanted to advance their goal beyond desegregation and into black power. Because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the goals and strategies of the Civil Rights Movement shifted from non-violent civil disobedience to more militant methods in favor of self-defense and black power even though there was a scarcity of white support. Before the Civil Rights act of 1 964 and the Voting Rights Act f 1965, much of the Civil Rights Movement focused on achieving desegregation and equality. For example, the (The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was founded by college students in 1960 with the goal of equality and integration, and specifically sought for a social order of Justice permeated of love. Martin Luther King and the people who protested in Birmingham believed that Injustice threatened America, and sought to bring this to the attention of the country. The tactics of the pre-1965 Civil Rights movement varied in specifics, but the overall strategy followed nonviolent methods. Groups such as the SYNC strove for courage, love, acceptance and hope through nonviolent methods, while protesters around the country had similar tactics. For example, in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, call rights protesters stood up against unfair laws and police brutality without raising a hand to defend themselves. In such demonstrations, they relied on the media and the pictures taken of their efforts to spread their message across America and raise support. These actions were modeled after other nonviolent movements throughout history such as the Indian Independence Movement in the early sass’s. More specific strategies of the Civil Rights Movement included bus boycotts to Integrate public transportation, sit-ins to Integrate public the movement didn’t aim to overcome discrimination swiftly; they were thorough and won victories slowly. Movement had moderate goals, and generally did not aim to overcome prejudice in a swift and aggressive manner. Document A: SYNC (The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was founded by college students in 1960 with the purpose of equality, integration, and with the hope for an integrated society using non-violent methods. Document B: In 1963, civil rights workers protested the treatment of African-Americans in Birmingham, Alabama, and workers including Martin Luther King were arrested. While in Jail, King wrote a letter from Birmingham Jail to the Episcopal clergy of Birmingham with the intent of persuading the people to take action. Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere. Document C: Document D: In 1963 President Kennedy told the nation about his goal to provide all Americans equal rights and equal opportunities by asking the United States Congress to act on the subject of equal laws for all citizens of America. As an indirect result of this report, the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, which outlawed many forms of discrimination, amended unfair voter registration requirements, and ended racial segregation in public accommodations. Document E: By 1966, the goals of the Civil Rights Movement had shifted from national integration and brotherhood to a more powerful role of black people in society. People such as Stokers Carmichael and other activists for black power aimed for well- off black communities in which humanistic love would prevail. Document F: Civil rights protesters became impatient with the slow-moving pace of non-violent, defenseless demonstrations that had been taking place in the earlier years of the sass’s. As a result, groups such as the Black Panther Party were formed, which called Americans. Document G: As a result of both the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Freedom Summer, the percentage of registered African-American voters increased significantly in the south, showing that many of the strategies of previous civil rights workers had begun to change the unjust laws of the American society. Document H: Despite the committed efforts of the civil rights workers to integrate the American society, there were still millions of whites who disagreed with racial equality and the consequences that came with it, as shown by the 1968 election statistics in which nearly ten million people voted for segregationist George Wallace. How to cite Voting Rights Act, Papers