Have you ever made a choice that would make you popular, but it was a bad choice. Maybe you made a decision that made you lose popularity, but was the right choice. Lyndon B. Johnson did both of these as a Texas senator and the president of the United States of America. Johnson had two sides a political side, and a principle side. Lyndon B. Johnson wanted votes, he needed votes if he wanted to become president. To keep all of the southern votes he provided a watered down pro-discrimination bill. He was for discrimination as a Texas senator, he needed votes if he ever wanted to achieve that dream. He saw a perfect way to get those votes from the south, give them exactly what they want; even if it is against what he thinks is right. LBJ was …show more content…
Johnson said this to Roy Wilkins when Wilkins questioned why he only opposed slavery as the prefixes, instead of a Texas senator. Johnson meant by saying that was that that’s not what Texas wanted, therefore he could not oppose it if he wanted to stay in office. Johnson began working to pass the Civil Rights Bill. Johnson had a first hand account of what the discrimination was like; teaching a Mexican-American school before getting into politics. Johnson said, “I could see it in the eyes”, Johnson had an up close experience as to what discrimination was doing to average people’s lives. 39% of the people liked the pace he was going to carry out this bill, which is very hard. He had a 50% approval rating which is 5th highest of the United States presidents. LBJ also was threatened by the Georgia Senator, Richard Russell JR., that he’d lose all the votes from the south. Johnson pretty much said to his old friend “ So be it” johnson did use much more vulgar words, and said a little more than a few words on this subject though. Johnson got the Civil Rights Bill passed because he knew it was right and felt like he must get it passed for
Presidential Reconstruction by Andrew Johnson promoted racism and injustice against the Freedmen and was one of the reasons why Reconstruction failed. “Johnson openly encouraged the South to draft its notorious Black Codes law enacted across the south by the Fall of 1865, that denied the Freedmen political liberty and restricted their economic options and physical mobility” (Blight 29). The Black Code law which was established by the White Southerners was a way to reverse the rights and freedom gained by the African Americans, during the radical Reconstruction era, rights which were very hard for the Freedmen to obtain in the first place. The Black Codes gave power back to the White Supremacists to control and manipulate the Freedmen
King genuinely supported President Johnson both through his candidacy and through their joint efforts in Civil Rights. In fact, Dr. King himself conveyed himself, that he felt that, “His [President Johnson] emotional and intellectual involvement was genuine and devoid of adornment,” (Berman). As a man with a huge following, by Dr. King simply verbalizing these feelings, he rallied support under President Johnson. After the passing of the Bill, King was firmly convinced that LBJ was that candidate for him. He even went out of his way to bring President Johnson additional support.
In 1963, the Kennedy Administration had twenty-seven percent about right public votes for pushing integration. In 1964, the Johnson Administration had thirty-nine percent about right public votes for pushing integration. Also, 57 percent of public opinion approved the way Johnson was handling the civil rights problem, which was more than half. These results would help Johnson in the presidential election. This is why I believe L.B.J signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 based on principle.
Wilkins asked. Why would Johnson wait so long before announcing his position on this very serious issue? It makes most sense that L.B.J. suddenly changed his mind, for political reasons. Lyndon B. Johnson definitely signed this act with political intentions. Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act for political reasons like, gaining the approval of the public, showing people that he has changed, and to please the people of
The problems that critics were talking about were Johnson's failures. An example of one of his failures would be the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Johnson went to the Gulf Of Tonkin to ask congress to grant him permission to involve America into the Vietnam War. With approval he sent troops to North Vietnam. Johnson thought he knew what he was doing but unfortunately lost the war.
Johnson would keep vetoing bills, such as the Civil Rights Bill and the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill, which were mostly made to protect blacks. In the February of 1868 Johnson was
He expected for congress to help him with this. This made things less effective and slowed down the government. Legislation could not get passed, due to the fact hardly any compromises could be made. When it comes to foreign affairs, he promised one thing and gave another. His actions caused Iran caused the US embassy to be over ran and Americans were taken hostage for 444 days.
He never really put much thought into his decisions except for the fact of was he going to be liked. This is the third and final most important reason on why he signing of the Civil Rights Act was based purely on politics. In conclusion, The Civil Rights Act was signed through politics and he did win the election of 1964. America did benefit greatly from the new laws creating equal opportunity for all who lived there. In his new term, Johnson created the Great Society which allowed many unprivileged children have equal footing for school.
Why Did L.B.J Sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964? One July 2, 1964, pens were used to change the lives of every American citizen. L.B.J was born on a farm near Stonewall in the Hill Country of Central Texas and was really smart and had tons of energy; He decided to become a teacher. Why did L.B.J sign the civil rights act of 1964? If principle decisions are based on strongly-held beliefs, then Cotulla Teaching, Ignoring Southern Reaction, and Change of Heart show that President Johnson was motivated to sign by his principles.
Efforts from the congress after the rejection of President Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction Plan involved enacting laws and amendments that enforced equal rights only to the now freed male slaves and gave them the right to vote and hold office. The government, confronted with formation of anti-equality groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and many others that opposed equality, soon enacted the Black Codes. The congress then passed the Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil Rights Bills in hopes to settle the quarrels of slavery by declaring all born in the U.S as citizens but unfortunately, Johnson declined these bills. To retaliate, the Civil Rights Act
One way Johnson does this is by building up his trust with congress as well as his people through promising appeals. Johnson often uses “we” in most of his speech to prove to the citizens that it is not just them in the fight, but that he is providing assistance to reach their intentions. He continues to build that trust throughout his speech by putting himself as a human as well, not just as the leader of the country. Since Johnson is a white man who is trying to fight for African American rights during that era, it is quite hard to do so considering whites once hated blacks. This being said, it's Johnson's duty to enforce that trust to make the African Americans believe he is attempting to better their lives.
President JF Kennedy proposed and later on President Johnson signed the 1964 Civil rights that banned public discrimination (Gillion, Ladd, and Meredith, 2). Although the black Americans who are largely prosperous and have never were harmed significantly by racism in their lives have a tendency of associating with the Democratic Party. Individuals who are doing poorly in economic terms have a tendency of welcoming the short terms assistance that help them. As such the majority of the black Americans vote for the Democratic Party even if they would benefit more from adopting a philosophy that is more conservative (Hinson, 5). The Democratic Party is usually on the same page with the majority of the African American on gay marriage and abortion amongst many others.
Johnson participates in a joint-session with Congress advocating strongly for the Civil Rights legislation, mentioning the eulogy of J.F.K.’s presidency. Johnson’s aggressiveness with mentioning Kennedy’s power when he was president helped to push the legislation but there was still a lot of work to do. The House of Representatives wrote a “petition of discharge” trying to skip over the rules committee and what they had on their agenda. The rules committee which was headed by Howard W. Smith, was publicly supported. To avoid public embarrassment, Smith pushed the legislation through the rules committee himself.
Many people were brutally beaten and there were also some that lost their lives, because of it. Lyndon B Johnson begins his speech his by convincing his listener that he will flight for what is owed to the Negros. That is the equal right to vote regardless of your race. The speech “We Shall Overcome”, speech gets to the core of the problem within the Legislation itself. He wants to see that everyone will abide by the 15th Amendment that gives Negros the right and the privilege to vote without any recourse, without worrying
He was motivated by the same ideals and based on a liberal Christian tradition that is often forgotten today. Johnson’s key motivation, which is largely altruistic, emerged from the righteous outrage over the poverty and racism he 'd witnessed while growing up in Texas. During his urge to cast away communism, Vietnam turned into a tragedy, but it was part and parcel of Johnson’s commitment to civil rights and anti poverty reforms,” (LBJ: Architect of American Ambition, Page 83). Johnson’s ambitious and worth ethic far outstripped the liabilities, which are: had trouble connecting with large crows and was not an especially skilled debater or public