The Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped to end de jure segregation in the United States for good, and the Voting Rights Act of the following year finally secured African-Americans’ access to the right to vote, 100 years on from the end of slavery. Compared to both earlier periods, Johnson’s presidency secured long-lasting, permanent change that improved African-Americans status in society and access to political rights. However, the return of white soldiers at the end of the war, who found that their jobs had been occupied by black workers, led to renewed racial hostility, and ultimately negated any positive change achieved. The greater opportunities afforded to African-Americans, particularly in the north, by the wartime economy helped to improve socio-economic status. World War Two, in contrast, achieved greater social and economic change, but these changes were not as long-lasting.
Overall, the period 1865 to 1877 brought about some lasting change, but only in the context of political rights. However, the improvements to the social and economic status of blacks were not long-lasting because of sharecropping and the end of Reconstruction. The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments achieved further political rights for African-Americans, and provided lasting change. The Emancipation Proclamation secured the freedom of all African-Americans, and slavery was permanently abolished. The Reconstruction Era can be shown to have brought about considerable, long-lasting change through key pieces of legislation and constitutional amendments. Moreover, Although this event certainly changed the attitudes of the Federal Government as it demonstrated the power of a united black community and it gave the civil rights movement the success and awareness it needed, it could be argued that this was not necessarily a turning point but instead just a manifestation of the build-up in tension as a result of other turning points. It made be argued that to some extent, social change was minimal in the Montgomery Bus Boycott as the attitudes of white Americans towards African Americans did not change however, it could be seen that they were more aware of the unity of the Black Americans. Furthermore, the Montgomery Bus Boycott brought to light one of the key black activists Martin Luther King making it a politically active and important rally, highlighting just how leading the change was. A ripping hole da been made in the vast tent of Segregation. It ruled segregation on buses to be unconstitutional with similar reasoning to the Linda Brown case. Gayle gave another favourable verdict due to this event. Moreover in November 1956 after an initiative by the NAACP, the Supreme Court in Brower V. The boycott put financial pressure on the authorities who initially unwisely refused the slightest concessions.
African Americans at this point showed they could organise a protest, and co-operate with each other with minimal white participation, while nonetheless, affecting white Americans. Furthermore, it can be argued that the Montgomery Bus Boycott was long-lasting as it lasted just over a year (1st December 1966 – 20th December 1956) and it was highly leading in desegregation.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott gained the near unanimous support of ordinary black men and women giving them a chance to participate in an activity that involved effort but avoided danger hence making the event widespread. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was not the first example of direct action protest but it was the first to be really effective in the aspects of social, political and economic change and the success allowed to gain momentum and continue winning in the 60s. Therefore, it will be seen that, to a large extent, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was the most important turning point in the development of African-American civil rights from 1865 to 1992. However, both of these periods failed to bring about all three kinds of change. Also the Brown vs, Board case could be considered as a turning point as it created an important legal precedent. The Reconstruction Era could also be considered a turning point because African-Americans gained more freedom and better opportunities. It is useful to contrast the Montgomery Bus Boycott with other possible turning points in order to judge its overall significance. The Montgomery Bus Boycott promised greater equality for African-Americans through the desegregation of buses and the widespread change it provided. In order to regard a period as a turning point, it must be established whether it brought about social, political and economic change. To a large extent, the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1966-1956 can be considered the most important turning point for the development of African-American civil rights in the period 1865 to 1992.
0 kommentar(er)
