How did John F Kennedy feel about civil rights?

President Kennedy defined civil rights as not just a constitutional issue, but also a “moral issue.” He also proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1963, which would provide protection of every American’s right to vote under the United States Constitution, end segregation in public facilities, and require public schools to …

Why did JFK hesitate in his involvement in the civil rights movement?

In fact, throughout his career as a senator, Kennedy chose not to make civil rights an issue. Many historians feel he took this approach because he did not want to lose the support of his party. He likely was concerned about coming across as too radical and alienating his own base.

What did Martin Luther King Jr do in 1963?

In February, 1963, he sent a civil rights package to Congress which included legislation to secure black voting rights. That the bill failed to address access to public facilities — a major point of contention for civil rights activists — was a moot point.

What did Lyndon B Johnson do for the Civil Rights Movement?

Johnson also engineered Senate passage of the 1960 Civil Rights Act, which again was nearly toothless. Both acts primarily focused on voting rights, and neither provided realistic means of enforcement. But they placed the civil rights issue on the legislative agenda and foreshadowed future battles for broader, tougher legislation.

What happened in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement?

JFK and Civil Rights. On the evening of May 3, 1963, Americans watched on television as Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to desegregate Birmingham, Alabama collapsed under a wave of officially sanctioned violence. Birmingham police attacked peaceful black demonstrators with clubs, dogs, and high-pressure fire hoses,…

How were African Americans treated as second class citizens during the Civil War?

Despite Constitutional assurances to the contrary, African Americans were treated as second class citizens. They were frequently denied access to public facilities, prohibited from exercising their voting rights, and subjected to racist violence.