John F Kennedy Dbq

I chose to write about John F. Kennedy using the his “Civil Rights Address” as my primary source. By writing this paper I hope to prove how JFK helped the civil rights movement even though his term was cut short. I’m hoping I can prove that during his term he accomplished something for this movement that had a lasting effect. Civil rights was and still is a big deal in America and I hope to find out about his contribution to that effort.

In January 1961, a young, good looking, confident, charismatic, and democratic was elected. His name being John Fitzgerald Kennedy, became the 35th president. Kennedy was a symbol of hope for most Americans, and many citizens looked up to him. In fact, Kennedy used a lot of television so everyone knew his face well. His wife Jacqueline invited artist and celebrities into the White House.

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy said this famous quote in his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961. In his speech and during his campaign he ensured the country that he would do great things. His youthfulness brought hope to the country for a new age. It created confidence in his leadership and direction for our country.

Kennedy also helped get Martin Luther King released out of jail as he was arrested for protesting the treatment of black Americans in Alabama, This also shows he did take part to further the cause of the civil right as Martin Luther King was an important person for the black Americans as he was a leader in the African-American Civil Rights movement. However, President Lyndon B. Johnson was the president which stopped poverty of non-white Americans. Looking at source 28, a table which shows the percentage of people living in poverty in the USA in the years 1959-68 the year President Johnson became president, 1963 on this year 51.0% of non-whites had been living in poverty in the USA five years later after the 1964 Act signed by President Johnson, the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act in the year 1968 the percentage of non-whites living in poverty in the USA dropped to 33.5%. This shows President Lyndon B. Johnson had the greatest impact on the civil rights movement as the percentage of non – whites living in poverty decreased dramatically at the time of President Lyndon B. Johnsons

The “brief shining moment” that Kennedy was remembered for, was actually only mediocre. During Kennedy’s presidency, Kennedy had high hopes, but died before many could be authorized. However, not all of that was his fault. Many times Kennedy had pushed for reforms, but as he barely made it into office, Congress was not as accepting, pushing back on his ideas, leading to many impasses. Kennedy was may have been successful in foreign affairs, but they were also a disaster at times.

In the same year, before this civil rights bill was enacted, Kennedy was shot and killed by a troubled former marine, Lee Harvey Oswald. Replacing Kennedy was a southern, poor, but dedicated politician Lyndon Johnson.

Have you ever made a choice that would make you popular, but it was a bad choice. Maybe you made a decision that made you lose popularity, but was the right choice. Lyndon B. Johnson did both of these as a Texas senator and the president of the United States of America. Johnson had two sides a political side, and a principle side. Lyndon B. Johnson wanted votes, he needed votes if he wanted to become president.

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in only using non-violence in his activism. He used methods like peaceful resistance and non-violent protests. King was already known for organizing and carying out civil rights protests peacefully in the south. I think Kennedy also changed his mind because he saw the success King had already made while working with the SCLC and he knew that it might hurt him politically if he got in the middle of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr's type of activism would have been a much better choice to allow in Washington than the type Malcolm X used.

During the 1960’s, the Civil Rights Movement was a big topic and controversy with all of the United States. It was quite clear that African Americans did not get treated the same way that whites did. It had been ruled that it was constitutional to be “separate but equal”, but African Americans always had less than the whites did. For example, the schools that they had were run down, and had very little classrooms, books, and buses. Martin Luther King had a large role in the Civil Rights Movement, as did Malcolm X, and others.

Alexander M. Bickel, from The Commentary magazine, says that under Kennedy many issues were attacked, including school and interstate transportation desegregation and employment and housing issues (The Civil Rights Act of 1964). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it possible for our country

Martin Luther King Jr. answers every issue that the clergymen bring up in a detailed and calm way. As a legal American of the United States, MLK had the right to be where every he pleased. According to the Kings legacy after 7 days in jail he was released on bond and because of his letter, everybody who was neutral changed their mind to fight for desegregation. The protesters were mainly high school students who were arrested, hoses down and bitten by dogs from police brutality. On May tenth, 1963 Birmingham made a public announcement that all segregation would end in every school or job.

Television enhanced the civil rights movement, which gave the movement the momentum it needed to succeed and spur the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The importance of the television was in how people not directly involved in the movement could see and hear exactly what was happening. This lead to a greater public understanding of how people of color were being treated, and the violence used by segregationists to suppress the movement. While other factors did contribute to the overall success of the movement, such as civil rights groups and the presidential leadership, it was television that lead to achievement and progress. It was not television alone that drove change, both presidential leadership and the leadership of civil rights activists played a crucial part in act being passed.

Mid-twentieth century was a time of great significance in the United States of America. It was during this time that the Civil Rights Movement started and created an impact on society that can still be seen to this day. Starting with the Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), in which segregation in public schools was banned, the movement continued to grow and gave men like James Meredith opportunities that had never-before been available. Eight years into the Civil Rights Movement, Meredith left his own mark on history when he became the first black man to enroll and graduate from the University of Mississippi, thus integrating a school symbolized with white prestige. Although Meredith faced heavy resistance from state officials

Martin Luther King Jr. had a big impact on us during the 1950s and 1960s. He spoke out against racial discrimination and delivered the “I Have a Dream…” speech to end, or at least try, to put a stop to segregation. Though he never got to fulfill his “dream” of seeing our nation become free of racism (because he was shot on April 4, 1968), he does still have an impact on us today. Here’s why. Civil rights have impacted our nation in a tremendous way.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered his “Civil Rights Address” on June 11, 1963 to talk about how everyone is born equal and just because you are born with darker skin you shouldn’t be considered less of a person and have less rights. It was filmed in the oval office and broadcast on national radio and television. This speech is about equal rights for african americans. It was made because two black children had to be escorted to school by state troopers after numerous threats. John F. Kennedy used diction as well as logos and ethos to make listeners believe that his argument is right and they should take his side.