Discrimination And The Voting Rights Act Of 1965

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were two symbolic laws passed by Congress in response to the nonviolent protests, boycotts, demonstrations, and sit-ins. The people were expressing their first amendments rights of freedom of speech and right to peacefully assemble. As a result, the movement managed to end separation by law in American society; however, separation among some citizens remained.

Finally, with the ratification the fifteenth amendment in 1870s, it secured the vote for the African Americans, and it forbid states from denying any citizens from the right to vote based on race, color, or “previous condition of servitude.” These three amendments were significant changes during the Reconstruction period because all people, not just white, can fully enjoy being an American citizen without worrying over their race or

James Meredith had an effect on African Americans in the south because of his courage and determination through the civil rights movement. “The fifteenth amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."” (Banfield). The fifteenth amendment was ignored for about 100 years from when is was stated. The March Against Fear made the amendment valid again; especially in the south.

This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting, also in those years, African Americans in the South faced tremendous obstacles to voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and other bureaucratic restrictions to deny them the right to vote. They also risked harassment, intimidation, economic reprisals, and physical violence when they tried to register or vote. As a result, very few African Americans were registered voters, and they had very little, if any, political power, either locally or nationally.

The 1960s era was quite the controversial time, debating between if segregation was the way to go or the complete opposite, integration. African Americans during this time were fighting for equality and acceptance in their communities. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically outlaws any discrimination, this meaning :race, color, religion, sex, and etc. In a community, working together brings unity and equality in the environment. Malcolm X thought segregation was the path to follow, but separate doesn’t mean equal.

Two specific examples of federal laws rulings that were victories in the equality movements were President Johnson Voting Rights Act in 1965 prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. It was aimed to overcome legal barriers preventing African American from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment in 1870. Various discriminatory practices were used to prevent African Americans to exercises their right to vote especially in the South mean African Americans were mistreated violently attacked when trying to vote. The voting act banned the use of literacy testing and made poll taxing illegal. This law gave legal law means to challenge voting restrictions.

On July 02, 1964 , Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited against people discriminating against another because of their skin color , so everybody was treated equally. L.B.J he became president after John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963 and L.B.J took office the next day. He finished what J.F.K wanted and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Political means some did it for votes or for something and principle means the person did something because it was the right thing to do. Why did L.B.J sign it was, it a political decision or was it a principle decision?

1964 was an essential time period for African Americans. During the time, discrimination and segregation were so dominant. Had it not have been for the Civil Rights Act, these issues could have divided the nation into one black society and one white society. White Northerners and White Southerners were racially prejudice. In the North, riots and violent fighting was something individuals would partake in.

The 15th Amendment (Amendment XV), which gave African-American men the right to vote, was inserted into the U.S. Constitution on March 30, 1870. Passed by Congress the year before, the amendment says, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Although the amendment was passed in the late 1870s, many racist practices were used to oppose African-Americans from voting, especially in the Southern States like Georgia and Alabama. After many years of racism, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to overthrow legal barricades at the state and local levels that deny African-Americans their right to vote. In the

Civil rights has progressed tremendously since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was created. My parents grandparents told me stories of how they were treated terribly in sweatshops, and were deterred from seeing a Bruce Lee movie because of all the mocking they would receive. Thankfully, discrimination towards any type of person has rapidly deteriorated in the United States. However, it is still common and is often changing towards different groups. In the past decade, discrimination in America seems to have shifted from women and people of black skin color to Muslims and people with brown middle eastern skin color.

The 15th amendment aimed to give more federal protection to former slaves. Specifically, this amendment gave all male citizens, including former slaves the right to vote. Next, this other civil rights act granted equal rights to whites and African Americans in all public locations. This was helpful to former slaves, because it made them feel respected. Except, it was not strictly

To accomplish social equality and justice has been a long controversial issue in U.S. history. Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be understood as a tremendous accomplishment today because it not only represent a symbol of the triumph of fighting social injustice, but also open the first gate for African American and minority to strive for more political power in order to create a “great society.”

With the 2016 election quickly approaching, voting is important. Especially, when you have someone like Donald Trump running for President. New voting laws are being presented which may cause controversy for voters, predominately minorities. Until the case of Shelby County v. Holder, it was much easier to block discriminatory voting laws. Most Southern states, with a history of passing discriminatory laws, were required to get preclearance (known as Section 5 under the Voting Rights Act) from the Justice Department before making any voting changes (Rosenthal, 2016).

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is hailed by many as one of the most important legislations in the American history. The act was passed into law 52 years ago under a lot of pressure and resistance from white senators and African American activists. The act, which was largely known as the “Bill of the century” was aimed at bringing equality for blacks and whites and end racial prejudice. The act was targeted to revolutionize America where blacks and whites would eat together in the same hotels and enjoy similar rights in public places without any discrimination.

In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 granting minorities the right to vote. By 1972, in the election of Atlanta, Barbara Jordan and Andrew Young were the first African Americans