The National Government was not a unified front throughout the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's. Even with large pressure on him, during the mid-1950's, President Eisenhower refused to take a stand in the civil rights battle, however, the Supreme court made such rulings as the Brown v. Board of Education ruling which had large sweeping effects across the south, just a few years later. John F. Kennedy promised to provide equal oppourtunity to public, government funded housing, with the "stroke of a pen." But when Kennedy entered office, he did not do this. In fact, only after 3 years in office did he decide to bring this issue about. These differing faces brought many people of African descent to a breaking point. There were many different aspects to this issue, which can be looked at from the three points of view of the branchs of the government: the legislative branch, or congress, the judicial branch, or the supreme court, or the executive branch, the presidency.
- Legislative-Congress
- Passed civil rights act of 1965
- Voting rights act of 1965
- Supreme Court
- Brown vs. Board of education 1953
- Brown II 1955 "All deliberate speed"
- Executive
- Eisenhower
- No firm stance on civil rights
- Forced to act by Little Rock stuff (little rock 9)
- -sent in armed guard
- -kept them there whole year
- JFK
- Got MLK Jr. out of jail
- Campaigned on Public housing (stroke of a pen)
- -didn't keep promises
- Very reluctant to show force, move towards one side
- Moved indirectly - jobs in govt, commission to end job discrimination
- Too little too late on housing, voter education
- Johnson
- Pushed Civil Rights bill through congress
- Very integrationist
- Worked hard to make all people equal
There are many different aspects of the National Governments involvment in the civil rights movement in the 1950's and 60s. From Johnson's integrationist perspective to the Little Rock situation, many different faces are shown. However, by the end of the 60's, a large part of the government's work on civil rights was complete: the laws were in place, they merely needed to be enacted. Then, as MLK said: "all of Go's children will be able to join hands and sing . "Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are free at last!"
