Notes for Voting Rights Act (1965) - IB | RevisionDojo
Voting Rights Act (1965) Notes
Legislative changes: The Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 struck at the heart of voter suppression in the South, banning literacy tests and empowering federal oversight, transforming Black political representation.
Why the Act was Needed
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not fully guarantee equal voting access, especially in the South. African Americans continued to face suppression at the polls.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 fell short on voting rights. It lacked strong enforcement mechanisms against literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers. Instead, it focused on public accommodations and employment, leaving voter registration obstacles unresolved.
Inspired by Freedom Summer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) challenge, activists pushed for stronger protections.
In January 1965, the SCLC, led by Martin Luther King Jr., launched a campaign in Selma, Alabama, facing violent resistance. This included the brutal beating of marchers on “Bloody Sunday” (March 7, 1965).
Case study
Selma Voting Rights Campaign
It began in January 1965, led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under Martin Luther King Jr., alongside the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
The Selma campaign was both a voter registration drive and a series of protest marches. Activists worked to register African Americans to vote by helping them pass literacy tests, navigate complicated registration processes, and resist intimidation. Many Black residents were turned away or harassed by officials when trying to register.
The local sheriff, Jim Clark, and deputized white men violently opposed these efforts, attacking peaceful protesters. The brutal events of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965, when state troopers beat marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, were broadcast nationwide, shocking the public and increasing pressure for federal action.
Key Events and Leadership
In response, King led a second march and then a successful third march to Montgomery.
President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered a powerful address calling on Congress to pass voting rights legislation.
On March 15, 1965, Johnson gave his “We Shall Overcome” speech, responding to Bloody Sunday. He invoked American unity and urged citizens to join the fight for justice. Quoting the civil rights anthem, he inspired solidarity.
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965: A Landmark in American Democracy
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a transformative piece of legislation that addressed systemic racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the southern United States. It marked a turning point in the struggle for civil rights, ensuring that African Americans could exercise their constitutional right to vote without facing discriminatory barriers.
DefinitionVoting Rights Act of 1965A federal law designed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965.
NoteThe Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965.
