‘Kennedy achieved civil rights success’/‘commitment was
lukewarm’ or ‘failed to live up to his promises’.
(Essay Plan applies for all of the questions above)
PARA 1
Yes - Federal appointments
- Appointed 40 African Americans to top posts such as Associate White House Press
Secretary.
- Appointed 5 black federal judges such as Thurgood Marshall.
- Robert Kennedy as Attorney General brought 57 suits against black voting rights in
Louisiana compared to Eisenhowers 6.
No - Federal Appointments
- Continued to appoint segregationist judges in the south so there was a regional divide.
- 20% of deep south judicial appointments were segregationist.
- Arguably still a small number of African-Americans in government.
- Assist to the president of Civil Rights Committee was white - Harris Wo ord.
- Kennedy traded the problem of discrimination as a minor irritant and delegated the
responsibly to Robert Kennedy showing he lacked care for it.
PARA 2
Yes - Support for Activists/Campaigns
- Sent 500 US Marshalls to University of Mississippi 1962 to help James Meredith, rst
African American student at Ole Miss.
- Freedom Rides 1961 forced Rob Kennedy to get Interstate Commerce Commission
( enacts stricter regulations and nes for buses and facilities that refuse to integrate).
- March on Washington 1963, Kennedy helped to facilitate the passing of the Civil Rights
Bill.
No - Support for Activists/Campaigns
- Ignored Albany Campaign of 1961-2.
- Refused to do anything to help SNCC with their voter registration campaign in
Mississippi even though SNCC were beaten, jailed and harassed by white
supremacists.
- Voter registration levels in Mississippi were only 6%.
- Initially did not want March on Washington 1963 to take place.
- Reluctant to interfere with Southern Justice and Saw SNCC as unnecessarily
provocative.
- JFK not keen to respond to activism, didn’t want to send federal troops to protect
freedom riders or didn’t want to protect SNCC with their voter registration campaign in
Mississippi 1961-4.
- Overall lack of genuine e ort and hindered progress of cviil rights movement.
PARA 3
Yes - Legislation
- Civil Rights Bill 1963 - called for enfranchisement of African Americans and
desegregation in public spaces, to encourage African Americans to vote.
- Used executive powers to set up Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to
encourage companies to hire more blacks, limited success but Lockheed air craft plant
there was integration and promotion of African Americans.
- Executive Order 11063 - racial covenants at housing developments discriminated
against African americas, order prohibited segregation in the sale, lease or rental of
federal property.
ff fi ff fi
lukewarm’ or ‘failed to live up to his promises’.
(Essay Plan applies for all of the questions above)
PARA 1
Yes - Federal appointments
- Appointed 40 African Americans to top posts such as Associate White House Press
Secretary.
- Appointed 5 black federal judges such as Thurgood Marshall.
- Robert Kennedy as Attorney General brought 57 suits against black voting rights in
Louisiana compared to Eisenhowers 6.
No - Federal Appointments
- Continued to appoint segregationist judges in the south so there was a regional divide.
- 20% of deep south judicial appointments were segregationist.
- Arguably still a small number of African-Americans in government.
- Assist to the president of Civil Rights Committee was white - Harris Wo ord.
- Kennedy traded the problem of discrimination as a minor irritant and delegated the
responsibly to Robert Kennedy showing he lacked care for it.
PARA 2
Yes - Support for Activists/Campaigns
- Sent 500 US Marshalls to University of Mississippi 1962 to help James Meredith, rst
African American student at Ole Miss.
- Freedom Rides 1961 forced Rob Kennedy to get Interstate Commerce Commission
( enacts stricter regulations and nes for buses and facilities that refuse to integrate).
- March on Washington 1963, Kennedy helped to facilitate the passing of the Civil Rights
Bill.
No - Support for Activists/Campaigns
- Ignored Albany Campaign of 1961-2.
- Refused to do anything to help SNCC with their voter registration campaign in
Mississippi even though SNCC were beaten, jailed and harassed by white
supremacists.
- Voter registration levels in Mississippi were only 6%.
- Initially did not want March on Washington 1963 to take place.
- Reluctant to interfere with Southern Justice and Saw SNCC as unnecessarily
provocative.
- JFK not keen to respond to activism, didn’t want to send federal troops to protect
freedom riders or didn’t want to protect SNCC with their voter registration campaign in
Mississippi 1961-4.
- Overall lack of genuine e ort and hindered progress of cviil rights movement.
PARA 3
Yes - Legislation
- Civil Rights Bill 1963 - called for enfranchisement of African Americans and
desegregation in public spaces, to encourage African Americans to vote.
- Used executive powers to set up Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to
encourage companies to hire more blacks, limited success but Lockheed air craft plant
there was integration and promotion of African Americans.
- Executive Order 11063 - racial covenants at housing developments discriminated
against African americas, order prohibited segregation in the sale, lease or rental of
federal property.
ff fi ff fi
