Struggles at Little Rock & Montgomery Bus Boycott

proved how difficult it was for Black people to win

civil rights against prejudice and the Jim Crow laws
President Dwight Eisenhower was not convinced that
a law would work

I personally believe if you try to

go too far and involve the
emotions of so many millions of
Americans, youre making a
mistake.

 However the act passed due to the efforts of Lyndon B

Johnson (later to become President)

The US Government introduced the Civil Rights Act

1957
1st Civil Rights act in almost 100 years

EISENHOWERS INFLUENCE
He responded to problems (Little Rock),
rather than leading the country on an issue
He never publicly supported Civil Rights as he
believed you couldnt force people to change
their beliefs.
Nonetheless, he pushed through the 1957
Civil Rights Act

WHY WAS THE 1957 ACT INTRODUCED?

A reaction from the Federal Government to the
campaign for civil rights by groups like the
NAACP and the SCLC
Criticism towards the government that it wasnt
helping black people during the events of Brown V
Topeka and Little Rock
Fear that the government would lose the support
of black voters in the North
Fear of possible further violence and a potential
racial war
A successful civil rights act (82 years after the
last one) would give further support for
Johnsons bid for presidency
Embarrassment over the world-wide attention
the Brown V Topeka and Little Rock situations.

What did the 1957 Act want?

To address the attempt by Southern states to
restrict black voting and the ability of black
people to claim equal treatment.
It wanted the Federal Government through its
Justice Department to monitor civil rights
abuses
However, the final Act was a watered down
version of what was initially considered. WHY?
Fear of opposition from the right-wing
Southern senators.

What did the 1957 Act want?

1.

The right for Black people to vote in the

South without fear of lynching
2. Justice Department would investigate Civil
Rights abuses (e.g. murders)
3. Wanted black people to be able to claim
equal treatment
Reality: it was a watered down version.
Why? Fear of opposition from white, rightwing senators (WASPs)

What the Act actually said

It outlawed any person from having their
rights restricted
It set up an agency to enforce the Act
It gave the Federal Government power over
states rights

The 1957 Act was important / successful

because
It made certain that southern
discrimination tactics were illegal
It was beginning of further action by
Federal Acts
It made civil rights activists more
determined: it encouraged blacks to vote
and it encouraged blacks to complain and
get help
Gave a valuable insight into how to use
the media/tactics
Made Martin Luther King a well-known
leader

The 1957 Act was not important / successful

because
The southern states ignored the act and few
were investigated for breaking the act
Not one black person in the southern states
was added to the voting register
Merely a gesture token by the government
Changed little in reality
It was seen as a face saving exercise for the
government by many civil rights workers
The campaign had to be continued