History Essay: Why did civil rights

legislation happen in 1964-65?

Using the ideas and knowledge you've gained in the lesson
this week and the supporting notes on Martin Luther King,
answer the following question:
'Why did civil rights legislation happen in 1964-65?'
Remember this is an evaluation question so it requires you to
look at the different reasons and select the one that you think
is the most significant and explain why you think this.
Assignments like this can be challenging sometimes and if
you feel unsure, email your teacher for support.
There were many reasons for the Civil rights legislation being passed, this
could include the work of Dr Martin Luther King, the Federal Government
and the grassroots movement.

The work of Dr King is extensive as he partook in many significant

movements like the mass peace marches in Birmingham and Washington
and the Civil rights movement. But he also partook in the many failures of
movements like the Mississippi Freedom Summer and the events in Selma.

The Federal Government was not able to pass the legislation before 1964-
65 because of the majority in Congress (mostly Dixiecrats) had voted no
most of the time. But with the public putting pressure on them they had to
apply some change, and with the constant boycotts and movements (plus
Dr King’s speech), President Kennedy was intrigued and began to work on
passing a bill that worked to equalize civil rights between black and white
citizens of the United States of America. The
grassroots movement is one which uses the people of a given district,
region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement.
They had a significant influence during the American Civil Rights
Movement of the 1950s and 60s, as they had protested with non-violent
methods such as sit-ins which proved that people would not stop till they
would get what they wanted.

In conclusion, the combined forces of the Federal Government with the

outstanding work of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and the grassroots movement
helped in achieving goals and dreams that would benefit African-
Americans. In my opinion I believe that without the actions of Dr King in
starting boycotts, leading movements in big cities like Washington and
Birmingham, working with the many black communities to stand up to
segregation and unfairness, and putting pressure on the Federal
government, they wouldn’t have achieved what they were able to achieve
with him, without him.