Describe presidential actions and congressional votes to address minority rights in the United States, including desegregation of the armed forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.113.41.09G primary
  describe presidential actions and congressional votes to address minority rights in the United States, including desegregation of the armed forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
• TEKS.113.41.09H primary
  explain how George Wallace, Orval Faubus, and the Congressional bloc of southern Democrats sought to maintain the status quo;
• TEKS.113.41.09I primary
  evaluate changes in the United States that have resulted from the civil rights movement, including increased participation of minorities in the political process; and

Lesson Overview

This lesson explores key presidential actions and congressional votes that advanced minority rights in the United States, focusing on desegregation of the armed forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students will also examine opposition efforts by figures such as George Wallace and Orval Faubus, and evaluate the lasting changes in political participation by minorities resulting from the civil rights movement.

Learning Objectives

• Describe presidential actions and congressional votes that addressed minority rights, including desegregation of the armed forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
• Explain how George Wallace, Orval Faubus, and the Congressional bloc of southern Democrats sought to maintain segregation and resist civil rights reforms.
• Evaluate the changes in the United States resulting from the civil rights movement, especially increased minority participation in the political process.

Success Criteria

• Students can identify and describe key laws and presidential orders that advanced minority rights.
• Students can explain the role of opposition leaders and groups in resisting civil rights progress.
• Students can analyze and discuss the impact of the civil rights movement on political participation by minorities.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of segregation and discrimination in the United States prior to the civil rights movement, including Jim Crow laws and the concept of minority rights.

Key Vocabulary

• Desegregation
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• George Wallace
• Orval Faubus
• Southern Democrats
• Minority Rights
• Segregation
• Civil Rights Movement

Materials and Resources

• Images or political cartoons related to desegregation and civil rights legislation
• Primary source excerpts from presidential orders and congressional acts
• Biographical summaries of George Wallace and Orval Faubus
• Timeline template for civil rights events

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare visuals showing the timeline of civil rights legislation and presidential actions.
• Gather primary source excerpts for student analysis.
• Prepare brief biographies and opposition perspectives for discussion.
• Create a timeline chart for student use.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Presidential Actions to Address Minority Rights

Presidential actions played a critical role in advancing minority rights during the civil rights era. One key example is President Harry S. Truman's executive order to desegregate the armed forces in 1948, which ended official racial segregation in the military. Later, Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson supported and signed landmark civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment and public accommodations. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Johnson, aimed to eliminate barriers such as literacy tests that prevented African Americans from voting.

Congressional Votes on Civil Rights Legislation

Congressional approval was essential for passing civil rights laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 faced strong opposition, especially from the Congressional bloc of southern Democrats who sought to maintain segregation and the status quo. Despite filibusters and attempts to block the bills, the acts were passed due to bipartisan support and public pressure. These laws marked significant federal intervention to protect minority rights and enforce desegregation and voting equality.

Opposition to Civil Rights Progress: George Wallace, Orval Faubus, and Southern Democrats

Opposition leaders such as Alabama Governor George Wallace and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus actively resisted desegregation efforts. Wallace famously declared 'segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever' and physically blocked African American students from entering schools. Faubus used the National Guard to prevent the integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The Congressional bloc of southern Democrats also worked to maintain segregation through legislative obstruction and political pressure. Their actions illustrate the resistance civil rights activists faced from entrenched political and social forces.

Changes Resulting from the Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement led to profound changes in American society and politics. The passage of civil rights legislation increased minority access to voting and political participation, breaking down barriers that had excluded African Americans and other minorities. This shift contributed to the election of minority officials and greater representation in government. The movement also raised public awareness about racial equality and inspired further activism for social justice. Evaluating these changes helps students understand the lasting impact of the civil rights movement on the United States.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

Read and annotate the documents, noting what changes these actions brought about.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What was one presidential action that helped end segregation in the U.S. armed forces?
2. Developing: Name two major laws passed by Congress that advanced minority rights during the civil rights movement.
3. Application: Explain how George Wallace and Orval Faubus resisted civil rights progress.
4. Analysis: Analyze how the opposition by southern Democrats affected the passage of civil rights legislation.
5. Challenge: Evaluate the long-term impact of the civil rights movement on minority political participation in the United States.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. President Truman's executive order desegregated the armed forces in 1948.
2. 2. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
3. 3. George Wallace blocked African American students from entering schools and declared support for segregation, while Orval Faubus used the National Guard to prevent school integration, both resisting desegregation efforts.
4. 4. Southern Democrats used filibusters and political pressure to delay or block civil rights laws, making it difficult to pass legislation, but bipartisan support and public demand eventually overcame this resistance.
5. 5. The civil rights movement led to increased voting rights and political representation for minorities, breaking down barriers that had excluded them and resulting in greater minority participation in elections and government roles.

Guiding Questions

• What presidential actions helped end segregation in the military?
• How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 change American society?
• Why did some southern politicians resist civil rights reforms?
• What changes in political participation resulted from the civil rights movement?

Common Misconceptions

• Desegregation happened immediately and without resistance; in reality, it faced strong opposition and took time to enforce.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended all discrimination instantly; however, social and institutional challenges persisted.
• Opposition to civil rights was only from a few individuals; in fact, it was widespread among southern politicians and communities.

Differentiation

Assessment

• Class discussion responses about presidential actions and opposition.
• Annotation of primary source documents.
• Group timeline presentations.
• Write one sentence describing how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped minority rights.
• Name one leader who opposed desegregation and explain why.
• Essay evaluating the impact of presidential and congressional actions on minority rights.
• Research project on a civil rights leader or opposition figure.

Answer Guide

• What was the significance of Truman's executive order on desegregation?
  Answer: It ended racial segregation in the military, allowing minorities to serve equally and setting a precedent for civil rights progress.
• How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protect minority rights?
  Answer: By outlawing discrimination in employment and public accommodations, it legally ended segregation and protected minorities.
• Why did George Wallace oppose civil rights reforms?
  Answer: He wanted to maintain segregation and the status quo, resisting integration efforts.
• What role did southern Democrats play in civil rights legislation?
  Answer: They opposed civil rights laws through filibusters and political pressure to maintain segregation.
• What lasting changes resulted from the civil rights movement?
  Answer: Increased minority political participation and greater representation in government, along with raised awareness of racial equality.

Real-Life Application

Encourage students to interview family members or community leaders about their experiences or knowledge of civil rights changes in their area.

Homework or Home Connection

• Encourage students to interview family members or community leaders about their experiences or knowledge of civil rights changes in their area.

Lesson Summary

This lesson covered key presidential actions and congressional votes that advanced minority rights, including desegregation of the armed forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students learned about opposition from figures like George Wallace and Orval Faubus and evaluated the lasting impact of the civil rights movement on political participation by minorities. Understanding these events helps students appreciate the struggles and progress in achieving civil rights in the United States.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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