Heward1

Will Heward

History 2710

Professor Case

26 April 2017

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most influential events in 20th century
America. The Civil Rights Act ended segregation and discrimination on the basis of not only
race, but color, religion, sex or national origin (History - Civil Rights Act of 1964). The
Emancipation Proclamation was passed over a century earlier to abolish slavery, although racism
and segregation against African-Americans continued well into the 20th century. It was originally
proposed by President John F. Kennedy but received much opposition, especially from the South.
When President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 there was a lot of pressure on
his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, to finish what Kennedy had started. Johnson fought hard to
finish it and he eventually achieved his goal. Due in large part to Johnsons efforts, the Civil
Rights Act was passed by the House of Representatives in February 1964, and after extraordinary
debate in the Senate, was passed by the Upper Chamber and signed into law in June 1964
(Gallup News Service, Frank Newport). President Johnson could not have done it without a few
key people and events to support him. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and the controversial
court case, Brown v. Board of Education proved to be vital components in passing The Civil
Rights Act. I will discuss a few of the individuals and events associated with The Civil Rights
Act and explain why they were essential parts in the act.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) is one of the
most pivotal opinions ever rendered by that body. This landmark decision highlights the U.S.
Supreme Courts role in affecting changes in national and social policy (National Park Service,
Brown v. Board of Education). The court case commenced initially by a group of parents who
volunteered to take their kids to white only schools to enroll them for the next year. Children of
all thirteen parents were rejected and not allowed to enroll. As a result, each school told the
children they would have to enroll in an all-black school. Although, there was one huge problem
with this. For some, the all-black schools were extremely far away from their homes. Every
single parent filed suit against the Topeka Board of Education and the first one on the list, Oliver
Brown. His daughter Linda is the one most people hear about as the case was named after her.
After many protests and controversial riots a decision was made by the Supreme Court of the
United States. In 1954, the court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was
unconstitutional. A year later, a woman by the name of Rosa Parks did her part by demonstrating
courage and risking everything to promote the civil rights movement.

In Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, a black woman by the name of Rosa Parks sat in the
fifth row, first row of the colored section on the bus. Like public schools, buses in the
South were segregated into black and white sections. Generally, when a bus
 Heward2

filled up, the nearest seats were granted to white citizens. The bus driver
ordered the first row, including Parks, to move to the back of the bus.
Everyone except Parks moved. Are you going to stand up?" the driver demanded. Rosa
Parks looked straight at him and said: "No. "Flustered, and not quite sure what to do, Blake
retorted, "Well, I'm going to have you arrested." And Parks, still sitting next to the window,
replied softly, "You may do that (U.S. History, Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott).

Rosa Parks was eventually arrested and fined $10. A year later, the United States
Supreme Court ruled segregation on public buses unconstitutional and she rode on the front row
of the bus that day. Parks stood up for what she believed was right and as a result, became a key
player in the civil rights movement. The third and most influential player in the civil rights
movement was a Baptist minister named Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role
in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968
(History, Martin Luther King Jr.). Martin Luther King Jr. non-violently fought for equality on
behalf of African Americans. He believed that a statement could be made and change realized
without fighting, this will characterize him forever as one of the greatest peace makers in the
history of America. King led and energized the civil rights movement in the 1950s. Without him,
it is likely segregation and racism in America would have continued for several more years. He
was the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the
March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (History, Martin Luther King Jr.).

Racism against blacks and other minority groups had been a serious issue since the
United States was founded. The Civil Rights Act officially ended segregation and racism against
minority groups. Now, America is a country that grants equal rights to all men and women. A
country of equal opportunity. In 2008, Barack Obama was the first African-American president
in the nations history, sending a statement to the entire world that no matter your race, you can
become whatever you want to be if you are willing to work for it. The American Dream is
obtainable to anyone who righteously desires it. This is essentially what has shaped America into
what it is today, a country of equal opportunity for all.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most influential events in 20th century
America. The Civil Rights Act ruled segregation and racism on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex or national origin unconstitutional, transforming America into one of the most diverse
nations in the world. Lyndon B. Johnson came to office after President Kennedy was
assassinated. He set out to abolish segregation and racism in America and to finish what
Kennedy had started. Johnson fought hard to finish it and he eventually achieved his goal,
passing The Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964. President Johnson could not have done it without a
few key people and events to support him. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and the
controversial court case, Brown v. Board of Education proved to be vital components in the civil
rights movement.
 Heward3

Works Cited

"History & Culture." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 26 Apr.
2017.

"Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association,
n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

History.com Staff. "Civil Rights Act." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 26
Apr. 2017.

Gallup, Inc. "The Most Important Events of the Century from the Viewpoint of the
People." Gallup.com. N.p., 06 Dec. 1999. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.