Voting Rights Act

• • It was passed on 6th August by President Johnson
  • The Voting Rights Act set up:
  • A single voter registration that would be enforced by federal government.
  • Federal officials to increase voter registration in states where over 50% of those able to vote were not registered
• • By December 1965, nearly 80,000 new voters were registered, however the process was very slow and led to frustration that the government was still not doing enough
• • Despite the new laws, many black Americans continued to face discrimination in education, housing and employment
• Kennedy:

  • He appointed black people to high-level jobs
  • Used orders to send federal troops to University of Mississippi to help James Meredith
  • Used personal pressure to get escorts for the Freedom Riders
  • Pressed for Civil Rights Laws, but was assassinated before it was passed
• Johnson:

  • He appointed black people to high level jobs
  • Passed the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Act
  • Used orders to get state troops to escort the Selma marchers to safety
• Johnson:

  • Used personal pressure to get Southern politicians to support the Civil Rights bill through his good relations with the Dixiecrats