President Johnson’s Voting Rights Act
By Tracy Rodriguez
A Background of Lyndon Baines Johnson
You've come here to read about President Lyndon B. Johnson's Voting Rights Act, right? Before we dive deep into this topic, it’s important to get some background information about our former president. To begin with, Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on November 22, 1963, to a political family in Stonewall, Texas. Before becoming president of the United States, Johnson worked as a high school teacher, a congressional aide, and later in the House of Representatives. However, that did not stop there for Johnson. In 1953, he was also the Democratic Senate Majority Leader. Johnson’s Presidency
Johnson was sworn in as president following the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. At that point, he became the 36th President of the United States. According to him, his mission was to build “A Great Society” for the American people. He fulfilled this goal in part by enacting the Voting Rights Act. |
The Voting Rights Act
What is the Voting Rights Act?
President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which granted African Americans the right to vote. Despite the fact that the 15th Amendment had been approved many years before, granting African American men the right to vote, there were still discriminatory loopholes that prevented them from voting. On March 15, 1965, Johnson highlighted various ways that African Americans were being cast out of voting during his speech to Congress. Some examples include:
What is the Voting Rights Act?
President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which granted African Americans the right to vote. Despite the fact that the 15th Amendment had been approved many years before, granting African American men the right to vote, there were still discriminatory loopholes that prevented them from voting. On March 15, 1965, Johnson highlighted various ways that African Americans were being cast out of voting during his speech to Congress. Some examples include:
- Election workers would give Black voters inaccurate information about the date, time, or location of their polling station
- Their application was simply done incorrectly
- They lacked education, such as literacy skills
Regarding the lack of education mentioned in the third bullet, it was especially unfair for them given all the years they had been subjected to oppression and hardship. Since many Black people weren't allowed to get a good education before and during that time, and because they were treated badly, many of them were illiterate. For many of them, this made voting almost impossible.
Moreover, in the Southern states, where resistance to any type of equality was stronger, election officials would go to extreme measures to further oppress them. Black voters were required to recite the entire constitution and explain the extremely complicated laws that pertained to their state. Even the most educated Blacks were denied the right to vote, which made the situation worse.
Moreover, in the Southern states, where resistance to any type of equality was stronger, election officials would go to extreme measures to further oppress them. Black voters were required to recite the entire constitution and explain the extremely complicated laws that pertained to their state. Even the most educated Blacks were denied the right to vote, which made the situation worse.
The Voting Rights Act Gets Passed
The Voting Rights Act bill was approved by the U.S. Senate on May 26, 1965, and the House of Representatives followed more than a month later. On August 6, 1965, former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. Among the people present to sign the act with Johnson was civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. As such, he was a strong advocate for voting rights for African Americans. In 1957, he delivered a speech titled "Give Us the Ballot," in which he emphasized the potential changes that African Americans might effect by gaining the right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act has finally provided increased voting chances for African Americans. It meant that discrimination at the voting polls and in literacy exams was no longer allowed. This was one of the most important bills enacted in American history. It is still the reason that discriminatory voting is prohibited today, and people of all skin colors, regardless of education, social status, or language, can make a difference in this country.
However, it took some time for the United States to adjust to the Voting Rights Act. People who opposed it continued to disregard the bill, especially in the South. On the other hand, more Black people went to the polls to vote for their rights, resulting in long-term changes in the country. In fact, 59 percent of Black people in Mississippi voted in 1964. This was a significant increase from the previous year's figure of 6 percent of Black voters in the state.
Things continued to get better for Black voters when Richard Nixon entered his presidency. Nixon expanded the Voting Rights Act by lowering the voting age for everyone to 18 years old, making it even easier for Black people to vote. Today, we are lucky to live in a diverse country that allows us to continue to make changes through the power of voting, all thanks to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Voting Rights Act has finally provided increased voting chances for African Americans. It meant that discrimination at the voting polls and in literacy exams was no longer allowed. This was one of the most important bills enacted in American history. It is still the reason that discriminatory voting is prohibited today, and people of all skin colors, regardless of education, social status, or language, can make a difference in this country.
However, it took some time for the United States to adjust to the Voting Rights Act. People who opposed it continued to disregard the bill, especially in the South. On the other hand, more Black people went to the polls to vote for their rights, resulting in long-term changes in the country. In fact, 59 percent of Black people in Mississippi voted in 1964. This was a significant increase from the previous year's figure of 6 percent of Black voters in the state.
Things continued to get better for Black voters when Richard Nixon entered his presidency. Nixon expanded the Voting Rights Act by lowering the voting age for everyone to 18 years old, making it even easier for Black people to vote. Today, we are lucky to live in a diverse country that allows us to continue to make changes through the power of voting, all thanks to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Want to Learn More?
Want to learn more about history? Consider checking out more of our historical blog posts here. We’ve also created a section where we combine fitness and history to teach you through our Run On History races. If that’s something you’re interested in, then check out our races here to learn more. To get a sense of what our races are like, you simply select a race of your choice and follow the map we’ve set up for you. You can learn about the history of the location you've arrived at by stopping at each point. Don’t worry! Just because it says it’s a race doesn’t mean you actually have to run. These races can also be completed while walking, so you can double the fun by bringing a friend or a pet along.
Want to learn more about history? Consider checking out more of our historical blog posts here. We’ve also created a section where we combine fitness and history to teach you through our Run On History races. If that’s something you’re interested in, then check out our races here to learn more. To get a sense of what our races are like, you simply select a race of your choice and follow the map we’ve set up for you. You can learn about the history of the location you've arrived at by stopping at each point. Don’t worry! Just because it says it’s a race doesn’t mean you actually have to run. These races can also be completed while walking, so you can double the fun by bringing a friend or a pet along.
A note on capitalization:
At Run on History, we strive to promote equality and make sure that all of our articles that cover sensitive topics are covered in the most respectful way possible. With that in mind, we understand that the practices for referring to racial categories is a debated topic. For both clarity and consistency, we have chosen to capitalize terms like Black and White when used as racial descriptors.
At Run on History, we strive to promote equality and make sure that all of our articles that cover sensitive topics are covered in the most respectful way possible. With that in mind, we understand that the practices for referring to racial categories is a debated topic. For both clarity and consistency, we have chosen to capitalize terms like Black and White when used as racial descriptors.