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The Democratic Government And The African-American Civil Rights Legislation In The1960s

Posted on:2014-01-18Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:X D ChenFull Text:PDF
GTID:2246330398478574Subject:World History
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The United States is a country known for" democracy, freedom, equality", however, blacks as a special race in the United States has always only hovering at the edge of the national life, as second-class citizens in their own country. African-American Civil Rights Movement reach its climax in1950-60’s.The1960’s civil rights legislation was the most strong one in the history of the black civil rights struggle, it determines the equal rights of black people in the form of law, the blacks’ political, economic, social status has been greatly improved, and removes the obstacles for future blacks to fully participate in the American political and economic life. This paper mainly discusses the democratic government in the1960s that the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations’ role of the black civil rights legislation, so that we can more deeply understand the attitude of the federal government to civil rights and the influence of civil rights legislation for blacks and American society.The paper is divided into four parts.The first part: the background of the African-American civil rights legislation in the1960s. After the World War II, the economy of the U.S. presented a scene of prosperity, however, the blacks were still in the reality of inequality, long-term discrimination and oppression makes the black civil rights movement rising. At this point, The U.S.’domestic political environment and social atmosphere of public opinion provided the opportunity to the black civil rights legislation. Moreover, handling the problem of civil rights could also provide favorable political environment for the cause of American hegemony. All these internal and external factors had prompted the federal government to accelerate the process of civil rights legislation.The second part: the promotion of Kennedy administration to black civil rights legislation in the1960s. President John F. Kennedy during his tenure was in the urgent time of the black civil rights legislation, his attitude towards black people as well as civil rights thought had important influence on his cabinet group decision making, In addition, the Kennedy administration formed a relatively mature black civil rights legislation strategy, mainly through the way of formulated and issued Executive Order, to some extent, to give blacks equal rights. The Kennedy administration had gone through difficult civil rights legislation attempts, although the career was unfinished at last, the Kennedy administration’s civil rights policies and civil rights practice provided a reference for the future federal government and played an invaluable role in the development and progress of the black civil rights career.The third part: the black civil rights legislation practice of the Johnson administration. President Johnson’s civil rights thought gradually changed with the deepening of the civil rights understanding, the Johnson administration basically continued the civil rights policy during the Kennedy administration, continued by means of executive order to give blacks equal rights in all respects. Johnson Administration adopted three civil rights legislation, that The Civil Rights Act of1964,The Voting Rights Act of1965, the Open Housing Act of1968.Although the process of legislation was extremely difficult, the Civil Rights Acts are finally passed after the debate within the various factions, and groups of Congress. The Johnson administration had made a great contribution to the Civil Rights Act.The fourth part: the evaluation of the African-American civil rights legislation in the1960s. Series of the Civil Rights Acts passed through the efforts of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations gave blacks more equal rights in terms of education front, the political front and the economic front, making it a great change in the social status of blacks. But the Civil Rights Acts also have limitations, because of the deep-rooted racial discrimination, until now, the blacks are still not get the real equality.
Keywords/Search Tags:The1960s, The Kennedy administration, The Johnson administration, Black civil rights legislation
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