Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    Key topic 2: Protest, progress and radicalism, 1960–75 - 2 Peaceful…

    Full specification wording

    Option 33: Key topic 2: Protest, progress and radicalism, 1960–75 - 2 Peaceful protests and their impact, 1963–65: The impact of peaceful protest and the roles of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson in the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964). Selma and the Voting Rights Act (1965).

    Peaceful protests, such as Birmingham and the March on Washington, created immense public pressure that compelled federal action on civil rights.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 3
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Peaceful protests, such as Birmingham and the March on Washington, created immense public pressure that compelled federal action on civil rights. President Kennedy initiated the Civil Rights Act in 1963, responding to this pressure, but was assassinated before its passage. President Johnson masterfully used his political skills and Kennedy's legacy to push the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress, legally ending segregation. However, voting discrimination persisted. In 1965, the Selma to Montgomery marches highlighted this issue, culminating in 'Bloody Sunday' where peaceful marchers were brutally attacked by state troopers. The televised violence outraged the nation, prompting Johnson to introduce and sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned literacy tests and provided federal oversight of elections, transforming Southern politics.

    What earns the marks

    • Explain how peaceful protests generated media coverage that shifted public opinion and pressured politicians.
    • Differentiate the roles of Kennedy (initiating the bill) and Johnson (securing its passage) regarding the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
    • Describe the events of the Selma campaign, particularly the violence of 'Bloody Sunday' and its impact on national consciousness.
    • Detail the provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, such as the abolition of literacy tests and the introduction of federal examiners.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Attributing the passage of the Civil Rights Act solely to Kennedy.

      Put it right by emphasising Johnson's crucial legislative manoeuvring to overcome the Southern filibuster.

    • Confusing the Civil Rights Act (1964) with the Voting Rights Act (1965).

      Put it right by noting the 1964 Act ended segregation, while the 1965 Act specifically protected voting rights.

    • Stating that Selma was about desegregating transport.

      Put it right by identifying Selma as a campaign specifically focused on voter registration.

    Exam tips

    • When discussing the Civil Rights Act, explicitly link the legislative success to the groundwork laid by grassroots peaceful protests.
    • Use 'Bloody Sunday' as a key example of how televised violence against peaceful protesters forced presidential and congressional action.
    • Be prepared to compare the significance of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with the 1965 Voting Rights Act in achieving equality.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option 33: Key topic 2: Protest, progress and radicalism, 1960–75 - 2 Peaceful protests and their impact, 1963–65: The impact of peaceful protest and the roles of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson in the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964). Selma and the Voting Rights Act (1965). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which significant change was introduced by the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

    Listen

    Peaceful protests, such as Birmingham and the March on Washington, created immense public pressure that compelled federal action on civil rights. President Kennedy initiated the Civil Rights Act in 1963, responding to this pressure, but was assassinated before its passage. President Johnson masterfully used his political skills and Kennedy's legacy to push the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress, legally ending segregation. However, voting discrimination persisted. In 1965, the Selma to Montgomery marches highlighted this issue, culminating in 'Bloody Sunday' where peaceful marchers were brutally attacked by state troopers. The televised violence outraged the nation, prompting Johnson to introduce and sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned literacy tests and provided federal oversight of elections, transforming Southern politics. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain how peaceful protests generated media coverage that shifted public opinion and pressured politicians. Differentiate the roles of Kennedy (initiating the bill) and Johnson (securing its passage) regarding the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Describe the events of the Selma campaign, particularly the violence of 'Bloody Sunday' and its impact on national consciousness. Detail the provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, such as the abolition of literacy tests and the introduction of federal examiners. A common slip: Attributing the passage of the Civil Rights Act solely to Kennedy. Instead, emphasising Johnson's crucial legislative manoeuvring to overcome the Southern filibuster. Exam tip: When discussing the Civil Rights Act, explicitly link the legislative success to the groundwork laid by grassroots peaceful protests.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart of eleven boxes linked by arrows. It begins with a box for the peaceful protests at Birmingham and the March on Washington, which leads to public pressure for federal action. That leads to Kennedy initiating the Civil Rights Act in 1963, then to Kennedy being assassinated before passage, then to Johnson using political skills and Kennedy's legacy. This leads to the Civil Rights Act 1964 legally ending segregation, after which voting discrimination persists. That leads to the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, then to 'Bloody Sunday' where marchers were attacked by state troopers, then to televised violence outraging the nation, and finally to Johnson introducing and signing the Voting Rights Act 1965.
    This shows how peaceful protests pressured federal action, leading from Kennedy's initiation of the Civil Rights Act through Johnson securing its passage, and then from Selma and 'Bloody Sunday' to the Voting Rights Act.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. Kennedy initiated the Civil Rights Act
    2. 2. Selma to Montgomery marches took place
    3. 3. Johnson secured passage of the Civil Rights Act

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Presidential leadership and legislation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    The legislative impact of protest

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Voting rights and political empowerment

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    The role of the media in civil rights

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Presidential leadership and legislation
    Kennedy initiated the Civil Rights Act in 1963, while Johnson used his political skills and Kennedy's legacy to push it through Congress.
    The legislative impact of protest
    Peaceful protests created immense public pressure that compelled federal action on civil rights.
    Voting rights and political empowerment
    The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned literacy tests and provided federal oversight of elections, transforming Southern politics.
    The role of the media in civil rights
    Televised violence against peaceful marchers outraged the nation, prompting Johnson to introduce and sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart of eleven boxes linked by arrows. It begins with a box for the peaceful protests at Birmingham and the March on Washington, which leads to public pressure for federal action. That leads to Kennedy initiating the Civil Rights Act in 1963, then to Kennedy being assassinated before passage, then to Johnson using political skills and Kennedy's legacy. This leads to the Civil Rights Act 1964 legally ending segregation, after which voting discrimination persists. That leads to the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, then to 'Bloody Sunday' where marchers were attacked by state troopers, then to televised violence outraging the nation, and finally to Johnson introducing and signing the Voting Rights Act 1965.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

    There is more to this lesson

    The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.

    Carry on with the full lesson

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Test your understanding of Option 33: Key topic 2: Protest, progress and radicalism, 1960–75 - 2 Peaceful protests and their impact, 1963–65: The impact of peaceful protest and the roles of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson in the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964). Selma and the Voting Rights Act (1965).

    Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.

    Take topic quiz

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Start free

    Cookies on MasteryMind

    Essential cookies keep you signed in.

    Analytics and advertising cookies stay off unless you accept.

    Read our Privacy Policy.