Why Did Lyndon Baines Johnson Sign The Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Many people were talking about civil rights. Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas, on August 27, 1908. At the age of twenty he taught at a segregated Mexican- American school in Cotulla, Texas. In 1931 Johnson moved to Washington, D.C.where he worked as a congressional aide. In 1937 he won the Texas seat in the house of representative. In 1948 Johnson was elected as a senator for Texas. Six years later in 1954 he became a majority leader in the senate. During his senate years Johnson did not support federal civil rights laws. He believed that it was the job of the states to deal with the civil rights issue. However in 1957 Johnson did support a federal law on voting rights but it was watered down. In 1960 Johnson became the vice president under John F. Kennedy. Three years later Kennedy was killed and Johnson became the president of the united states. When Kennedy died a meaningful civil rights bills was struggling to get through congress. After Johnson got behind the bill it was a sure thing. On July 2, 1964 he signed the civil rights act. The bill expanded voting rights, strengthened equal employment opportunity, and guaranteed all Americans the Right to use public facilities. Why did Johnson sign the civil rights act, for personal gain or out of principal.
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Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because of his past experience’s, he was willing to lose election to pass the act, and he was free from southern segregationist
Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because of his past experience’s, he was willing to lose election to pass the act, and he was free from southern segregationist