How Did George Wallace Influence The Civil Rights Movement

The 1960s and 1970s were characterized by turmoil. During this era, civil rights were the major issue in the United States of America, and George Corley Wallace Jr. had a great role. Black people were looking for Civil Rights, and they wanted to get rid of segregation from the United States of America. However, this ideas were opposed by George Wallace. George C. Wallace was born on August 25, 1919, in Clio, Alabama. His father was a farmer and his mother was an orphan; he did not grow up in a wealthy family. He enrolled in Alabama University and studied law. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force and fought against Japan during World War II. After the World War II, George C. Wallace was selected as a judge of the Third Judicial Circuit
Court of Alabama. He lost in the first election of Alabama in 1958, but after four years later, he won and became governor of Alabama “ The Biography.com Website”.
In his first attempt to become a governor of Alabama in 1958, he rejected support from racist associations such as the Ku Klux Klan, but received support from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
However, he lost the election, because Alabama was a racist state. It was difficult to be elected in Alabama without help from Ku Klux Klan and strong assertion. Four years later, in 1962, he changed his mind and he ran again for Alabama state. This time, he was backed by the Ku Klux Klan and he made strong assertions. He asserted United States of America need to have segregation. As a result of this, he was elected as the governor of Alabama, and he stated “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” in his inaugural speech
“History.com”.
In 1963, right after he was elected as a governor of Alabama, a trouble about enrollment of two black people occurred. The two people were trying to enter the Alabama University; however, George Wallace rejected two black people to enroll the university “History.com”. He deployed the National Guard to in front of the Alabama University to prevent black people to enter the university. John F. Kennedy who was the president of the United States wrote presidential proclamation about this problem, and it was read in front of the university and allowed black people to enter the university. However, he denied that. Many White people were impressed by George Wallace’s behavior and he became popular among White people who were racist.
George Wallace was attempting to segregate Whites and Black in the United States. On the other hand, Martin Luther King Jr. opposed to the ideas of George Wallace. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta. He led the Civil Rights Movement “The Biography,com Website”. In the 1963, during the March on washington for Jobs and Freedom. He made a speech and which is known as “I Have a Dream”. He had great impact on racism in the United States of America. As a result of his activities for the Civil Rights, Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and the segregation has ended officially. George Wallace and Martin Luther King Jr. were opposed each other.
In order to get civil rights, African Americans and few White people joined the protest which is called Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. This protest is led by Martin Luther King Jr. Civil rights activists started the march from Selma to Montgomery “History.com”. In contrast, George Wallace stated that “We will not tolerate agitators attempt in to orchestrate a disturbance in this state”, and he used violence to stop the demonstration. Alabama state troopers attacked civil rights activists. They attacked with bats, lachrymators, and whips to chase away demonstrators to Selma. Approximately, 65 people injured by this happen. The incident is called Bloody Sunday ”Encyclopedia of Alabama”.
George Wallace attempted to be a president of the United States 3 times.
First attempt was in 1968, second was in 1972, and the last was in 1976 “History,com”. In his 1968 campaign, he ran as an Independent candidate against Nixon and Humphrey. George Wallace was mainly supported by white people who like the idea of segregation. He won in 5 states and won 9,901,118 popular votes. In this time, Richard Nixon won the election and he became a president of the United States. 4 years later, he entered the presidential primaries again and he was under the Democratic Party this time. During on the trail in Laurel, Maryland, George Wallace is shot by Arthur Bremer “History.com”. He took a bullet on his waist. Fortunately, he was still alive, but the injuries were serious, and wheelchair was needed for him to move around. He completed the campaign, but lost the election. In 1976, he tried to be a president of the United States once more, and this was the final attempt for him to become the president. He was running as a Democrat. However, Jimmy Carter won the election. George Wallace failed to become a president of the United
States.
As a result of many activities which were done by Martin Luther King, Jr. George Wallace failed to segregate Whites and Black people in America. American citizens were not interested in racism, but they were interested in equality. George Wallace used too much violences to stop protest, and these were sometimes broadcasted to America. As a result of this, many people believed segregation is not a good idea, and supporters of George Wallace decreased gradually. After the assassination attempt, George Wallace changed his mind.He admitted that segregation was wrong. He died September 13, 1998 at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery. He was 79 years old.