Spring Essay

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:25 PM

In the midst of the Cold War, American politics were beginning to become of great
importance at a global level. Following WWII's Double V movement, along with
racial tensions in America at an all-time high, the 50s and 60s became a crucial time
of change within America. Culminating with Johnson's Great Society, liberal
programs helped to pass an unprecedented amount of welfare and civil rights
legislation. However, the outspoken leaders of the Civil Rights movement such as
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez, and Rosa Parks became important
icons for a younger generation of activists and forced the country to create these
serious changes. During the postwar era up until 1970, the Civil Rights movement
had a dramatic effect on consolidating 20th century liberalism through the
amplification of activist and marginalized voices, as well as how it opened up liberal
politics to more Americans.

Upon examining Civil Rights developments during this time period, it is evident that
the rise of liberal activism played a key role in consolidating liberalism overall.
Malcolm X, who was notable as a more radical activist than many of his time, known
for making calls to action for the black community. However, just like many other
Civil Rights activists, he states that he is not opposed to whites, but rather the
position they hold to be able to oppress and marginalize Blacks (D3). Malcolm X was
also known for his role in the Black Muslim organization, which was formative in his
views and gave him an avenue to express his beliefs. These beliefs of cooperation
and nonviolence is reinforced by the Kerner Report, a document commissioned by
Congress, that outlines how violence within Black communities has its roots with the
actions of white legislators, city planners, and bankers (D5). As reflected by marches
and sit-ins, the Civil Rights movement was propelled by peaceful resistance, not
coordinated violence, and the accessibility of the movement by common people was
a major factor for its success, and these same people would later propel the Liberal
cause. Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the 24th Amendment, Black
voting rates skyrocketed, causing a small but powerful impact on national politics
(D6). This, along with other factors such as shifting Democratic values and a
crumbling New Deal Coalition, worked to shake up Southern political ties (D4). This
greenlighted Liberal Democrats in the Johnson administration to begin the Great
Society, passing more welfare acts such as Medicare and anti-poverty measures such
as the HUD.

Furthermore, the Civil Rights movement helped clear the way for new generations
of activists as well as movements among new groups of people, propelling and
consolidating Liberalism as a whole. As seen by the actions of College Students and
Ella Baker with SNCC, young people were in a position to protest the status quo (D2).
Despite many peaceful protesters being jailed or attacked on sit-ins as well as
Freedom Rides and peaceful marches in cities like Birmingham, involvement of
young people in the Civil Rights movement would send a powerful message to
American society that the media would further amplify. This included black
schoolchildren, who joined to protest the continual segregation within Southern
schools despite the ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education that "separate but equal"
had no place in education (D1). Southern violence towards Blacks and its media
coverage was one of the most vital tools to the Liberal movement, where upon the
national coverage of school segregation and violence in Little Rock, the federal
government was forced to send in the national guard. It can also be seen how a
Black rights movement inspired other groups to fight for their rights, with Cesar

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Black rights movement inspired other groups to fight for their rights, with Cesar
Chavez and Dolores Huerta creating a movement to push for rights for migrant
farmworkers, as well as Native Americans campaigning for their own rights with
their occupation of Alcatraz (D7). Ultimately, the Civil Rights movement was not so
much a focused cause but rather a nationwide change, signaling a new era of
American politics under a new liberal movement.

Johnson's liberal campaign of the Great Society can often be seen as the New Deal
of its time. Within both time periods, there was an agreement between both parties
for a need for this welfare legislation. Where FDR managed to create Social Security,
the WPA, CPA, and other initiatives to create more jobs and create security and
welfare, Johnson's "War of Poverty" backed by Medicare, Medicaid, the HUD, VISTA
both worked to help improve American society at its lowest level, and both
succeeded with moderate degrees of success. With Johnson cutting the poverty rate
in half and FDR creating millions of jobs, both presidents created unprecedented
economic and social change, but also stood against critics, with socialist displeased
with FDR not being radical enough and Johnson facing the controversial Vietnam
war.

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