US Civil Rights Movement During 1947-1975, Research Paper Example

Civil rights movement in the US history was a political movement of people towards rights and equality before law. It was a tenuous and lengthy path accompanied by various rebellions and civil unrest. It took tremendous efforts and many lives of the US citizens to establish a free and equal society. It refers to the events and movements in the country against public and personal racial discrimination.

The movement of protest that started in the South and moved throughout the nation had a significant impact over American institutions, namely legal institutions. The important role of the Supreme Court, being a protector and the result of civil rights struggle, is one of the most valuable chapters of Court’s history.

The time period of the US history between 1947 until 1952 in terms of the civil rights moment refers to relative slowness in the progression. One of the most important factors was the election of Harry S. Truman as the US President. By 1945 all militaristic and economic ramifications as an outcome of the Second World War were on the shoulders of Truman and it resulted into the civil rights movement being put on hold. Lack of progress and complications were also due to inability to establish good relations with Soviet Union and Stalin. President Truman was mostly occupied with the foreign policy than anything else. The state of civil rights movement was in its early stage. Truman introduced a “Fair Deal” program to improve economic inequality but this lead into massive black unemployment in the state. He called for higher minimum wages, social security, aid to education and health care. The program was blocked by Southern Democrat-Republican coalition. This aspect as well as segregated under-funded schools, poor education added greatly to the increasing anticipation and inequality. In 1948 the discrimination in the armed forces was forbidden. The ban initiated tension within black communities and did not make a significant political change. According to LaFeber “the Ghost of Depression Past and Depression Future thus hovered menacingly over American postwar objectives”. (LaFeber 47)

Among major reasons that slowed down the progression of the rights movement was Truman’s political distraction and occupation with the problems of World War II and the Cold War. The racial segregation and laws bore strong influence, motivated racial violence and even lynching. Among black population there was no unity at that time and no sense of direction. Truman’s failure of compensatory measures resulted into African Americans suffering from unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and high crime rates. Because of his background Truman was viewed as an unlikely person to make political reform and judicial aid.

To be able to understand the rise of civil rights movement in the 50’s it is worth mentioning the Jim Crow South which since 1890’s restricted and isolated blacks from being part of Southern white society. According to Aldon D. Morris “compounding the economic and political oppression was the system of segregation that denied blacks personal freedoms routinely enjoyed by whites”. (Morris12) African Americans were not able to vote, go to school, get a good job and were forced to have second-class citizenships. However, in 1954 the Supreme Court has made of the most significant decisions. During it case of Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka it was decided that maintaining separate schools for white and black children was unconstitutional. This ruling made way for a large-scale desegregation. The Plessy v. Ferguson ruling (“separate but equal“) was overturned. The ruling helped to transform the Couth into an important institution for civil and political rights protection.

The Brown decision gave a start to the demonstrations across the South in 1955. African Americans started to speak up more for themselves and about their racial opinions. The famous Montgomery Bus Boycott that took place in 1955 made Rosa Parks, who refused to move to the back of the bus, a hero in the Civil Rights Act movement. The racial conflict was resolved in favor of African Americans and made  Martin L. King a well known figure. Together with Steele and Shuttlesworth, he headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He believes that African Americans “must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline”. (King,  Carson 47 ) The struggle for civil rights during  50’s showed that America was separated by region and race. Blacks and whites fought against other whites to win the rights that African Americans were guaranteed by the American constitution. The struggle led many people to question their government and society.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited racial discrimination in public facilities of any kind, allowed Southern Blacks to vote and helped poor citizens to improve their economic situation. President Johnson at that time introduced the Great Society Program which could improve the well being of all citizens and especially the poor ones. He strove to help every segment of the existing society.

With the appearance of the Black Power, civil rights movement began to eclipse integrated power. Its representatives started to argue about the self-determination of blacks and “to assert that the assimilation inherent in integration robs Africans of their common heritage and dignity”. (Fukuyama 15)

Within the time frame of 1945-1975 civil rights movement was also happening among women, native Americans, Mexican Americans, etc.. Starting with Betty Friedan who in 1963 published her article “The Feminine Mystique” and argued that women are not only for “finding a husband and bearing children” (Hennessee 62), women’s movement acquired a special admiration. It was basically made up of the middle class and had a strong effect on this segment of populations during 60’s. Women strove for better rights and equality. At that time National Organization for Women (NOW) was created with the aim to make female citizens part of the American society. NOW and other female organizations helped to educate women about their limited opportunities and give them strength and abilities to stand against this injustice. Females at that time took strong effort to fight for the better professional, economic, political, educational equalities, sexuality, family relations and many other aspects. In 1972 the Equal Rights Amendment was a strong attempt to finish the discrimination against women. The Supreme Court ruled laws that treat men and women differently as suspicious.

American Indians being in minority also suffered from injustices and inequality. Founded in 1968 American Indian Organization was aimed t help urban Indians that were displayed by the government programs. As it grew, it has broadened the efforts to include the economic, autonomous rights demands as well as restoration of seized lands and traditional culture. Some of the protests involved violence, for instance, case with Wounded Knee and were publicized. With time the organization split into two groups but still continued to function.

During the time frame of 1947-1975 a series of important civil rights’ activities took place and helped to position the civil rights movement to its significant recognition. Directly or indirectly the changes led to key improvements in the legislation. Throughout the history of America, the pursuit of equal civil liberties and rights was a common theme of its development. Key figures and activists fought, at times with their lives, to provide the realization of rights guaranteed by the American Constitution. The struggle itself went far beyond just the civil rights under law but touched down such fundamental aspects as respect, dignity, social and economic equality and freedom. The civil rights movement has greatly transformed the society and culture of America. It brought about less tolerance towards racial and gender discriminations.

As the changes during late 90’s continued to happen and bring about positive changes and total abolishment of the discrimination, today with the President Obama we observe the strongest result of the civil rights movement. US being a recognized world power is setting a strong example for the leaders and countries worldwide.

Work Cited

Fukuyama, Francis. “Identity, Immigration and Democracy“. Journal of Democracy. 11 July 2006: 15

Hennessee, Judith. “Betty Friedan: Her Life” 1999: 62

King Jr., Martin Luther and  Carson, Clayborne “The autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.” 1998: 47

LaFeber, Walter. “The American Century: A History of the United States Since the 1890’s” 2008: 47

Morris, Aldon D. “The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement: Black Communities Organizing for Change” 1984: 12