Study notes
The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of Liberalism
The emergence of the civil rights movement after World War II was one of the most important events in US history. It forced white Americans to recognize the systematic discrimination that affected African Americans and other non-whites. And it shattered the postwar consensus and sparked a revival of liberal reform. These reforms included landmark civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination and restored the voting rights of blacks in the South. Reformers in the 1960s also increased government regulation of business, expanded the welfare state, and passed laws that addressed new “quality of life” issues. By the late 1960s, new political forces committed to combating discrimination and protecting the rights of minorities had gained substantial public support and sparked new tensions within the Democratic coalition. Inspired by a new “rights-oriented liberalism,” they pushed the Democrats to embrace new causes and appeal to new constituencies.
Origins of the Civil Rights Movement
Blacks were optimistic and determined after World War II. More and more of them joined organizations like the NAACP, which pressured both of the major parties to support legislation that would restore the civil and political rights that had been taken away from Southern blacks after Reconstruction. President Truman and the Democrats came out strongly in favor of civil rights in 1948, winning the support and gratitude of black voters, but also leading to the “Dixiecrat” revolt of Southern Democrats.
African American optimism during and immediately after World War II
Increase in membership of civil rights organizations like NAACP
Growing support for black civil rights among Norther Democrats
Breakthroughs during Truman administration
The revolt of the “Dixiecrats”
Meanwhile, the NAACP continued its decades-long campaign of working through the courts to undermine the legal foundations of
The emergence of the civil rights movement after World War II was one of the most important events in US history. It forced white Americans to recognize the systematic discrimination that affected African Americans and other non-whites. And it shattered the postwar consensus and sparked a revival of liberal reform. These reforms included landmark civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination and restored the voting rights of blacks in the South. Reformers in the 1960s also increased government regulation of business, expanded the welfare state, and passed laws that addressed new “quality of life” issues. By the late 1960s, new political forces committed to combating discrimination and protecting the rights of minorities had gained substantial public support and sparked new tensions within the Democratic coalition. Inspired by a new “rights-oriented liberalism,” they pushed the Democrats to embrace new causes and appeal to new constituencies.
Origins of the Civil Rights Movement
Blacks were optimistic and determined after World War II. More and more of them joined organizations like the NAACP, which pressured both of the major parties to support legislation that would restore the civil and political rights that had been taken away from Southern blacks after Reconstruction. President Truman and the Democrats came out strongly in favor of civil rights in 1948, winning the support and gratitude of black voters, but also leading to the “Dixiecrat” revolt of Southern Democrats.
African American optimism during and immediately after World War II
Increase in membership of civil rights organizations like NAACP
Growing support for black civil rights among Norther Democrats
Breakthroughs during Truman administration
The revolt of the “Dixiecrats”
Meanwhile, the NAACP continued its decades-long campaign of working through the courts to undermine the legal foundations of