Government+Reaction+to+the+Civil+Rights+Movement+(JX)


 * How did the American Government React to the African-American Civil Rights Movement?**

Primary source: [| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAlZHfaksQM] Secondary source: [| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%931968] )


 * Government was usually fair
 * If didn't violate any laws, didn't arrest
 * Speeches, gatherings
 * If DID, consequences were harsh
 * Rosa Parks refuses to get off the seat in bus, and was arrested for that
 * In riots, people were beaten, imprisoned, or even killed


 * Some government officials were biased
 * Southern governors often disliked African-Americans
 * Couldn't do anything, if not against the law


 * Point of views of governors change
 * Ku Klux Klan, an extremist group for white superiority, does terrible, violent actions against African-Americans
 * Many people get uncomfortable
 * Governors gradually change views, and some accept idea of giving them rights

At first, some of the government, especially the Southern governors, held a prejudice against the African-Americans. In their eyes, blacks were inferior. However, there were also many people in the government who believed African-Americans were equal. The government usually treated issues fairly. When African-Americans had speeches, gatherings, and didn't violate any laws, the government wouldn't do anything. When they had riots, didn't abide to different laws, there could be serious consequences. Later on, the views of the public on the African-Americans changed. This was because an extremist group called the Ku Klux Klan were committing awful crimes in the name of white superiority. Even though people didn't like the African-Americans, they still grew uncomfortable. As the Ku Klux Klan murdered, beat, and oppressed the African-Americans, many people realized this wasn't the way to treat them. The Ku Klux Klan was a terrible threat to everyone.

 Thesis: The Ku Klux Klan was a terrible threat to everyone, not just the African-Americans they oppressed.