Why Did Lyndon Baines Johnson Sign The Civil Rights Act Of 1964

Many people were talking about civil rights. Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas, on August 27, 1908. At the age of twenty he taught at a segregated Mexican- American school in Cotulla, Texas. In 1931 Johnson moved to Washington, D.C.where he worked as a congressional aide. In 1937 he won the Texas seat in the house of representative. In 1948 Johnson was elected as a senator for Texas. Six years later in 1954 he became a majority leader in the senate. During his senate years Johnson did not support federal civil rights laws. He believed that it was the job of the states to deal with the civil rights issue. However in 1957 Johnson did support a federal law on voting rights but it was watered down. In 1960 Johnson became the vice president under John F. Kennedy. Three years later Kennedy was killed and Johnson became the president of the united states. When Kennedy died a meaningful civil rights bills was struggling to get through congress. After Johnson got behind the bill it was a sure thing. On July 2, 1964 he signed the civil rights act. The bill expanded voting rights, strengthened equal employment opportunity, and guaranteed all Americans the Right to use public facilities. Why did Johnson sign the civil rights act, for personal gain or out of principal.
Lyndon B.
Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because of his past experience’s, he was willing to lose election to pass the act, and he was free from southern segregationist
politics.
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because of his past experience’s. At the age of twenty Johnson taught at a segregated Mexican- American school in Cotulla, Texas. In a speech to congress, titled “The American Promise”, he explained his students and the situation they were in. “They even knew even in their youth the pain of prejudice. They never seemed to know why people disliked them. But they knew it was so, because I saw it in their eyes”(Johnson, 411) In this quote he explains that his students even knew the pain of prejudice. Therefore having this job and knowing what his students went through he might have had sympathy for people that had prejudice against them. So because of his past experiences and sympathy for people that had prejudice against them he might of sighed the Civil Right Act of 1964. In conclusion Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principal because of his past experience’s.
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principal because he was willing to lose the election to pass the act. In November 1963, a few days LBJ became president, Johnson invited Senator Russell of Georgia to the white house. In the following conversation johnson tells Russell what he will do to pass the act.” Dick You've got to get out of my way. I'm going to run you over.” He is saying that if the senator does not get out of the way of johnson trying to pass the civil rights bill he will go past him.in trying to pass it. In the next part of the conversation senator russell says “You need you that, but, by God, it's it's going To cost you the South and cost the election. Johnson replies “If that's the price I gotta pay I’ll pay it gladly.” The rest of the conversation explains that if Johnson goes past him in passing the civil rights bill it will cost him the south and the election. Johnson's response is pretty self explanatory. This conversation shows what Johnson will do to pass the civil rights room. In conclusion Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principal because he was willing to lose election to pass the act.
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because he was free from southern segregationist politics. Roy wilkins, who was an important part of developing the civil rights bill that johnson would later support, once asked Johnson “ if he had felt so strongly about the issue, why had it taken him so long to act on it?”(Dallek, 419) In response Johnson said “ you will recognize the words I’m about to repeat. Free at last, free at last. Thank god almighty, I’m free at last.” In this quote he was describing himself as liberated from his southern segregationist political bonds. Although he could also be describing as a man who could fully put the national interest and moral concerns above the political constraints imposed on a Texas senator. In conclusion Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Right Act of 1964 out of principle because he was free from southern segregationist politics.