Emily Osterman

3/25/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt
Voting Rights Unit: Essay Outline

1. INTRODUCTION
a. hook (interesting shock or fact): 2% of Selmas eligable people
were allowed to vote. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/selmamontgomery-march
b. background
1. During the 54 mile march to the state capital, the
marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers with nightsticks, tear
gas, and whips when they refused to turn back from the Puettus Bridge
that led into Alabama. This cause more priests, rabbis, and ministers to
join the voting rights campaign.
2. King led 2,000 marchers across the same bridge
where they got stopped again. King led them in a prayer and decieded to
turn back on March 9th, 1965. Later that night, a white minister named
James Reeb was beaten to death by a group of whites for joining the
march.
3. After President Johnson spoke about his support
towards Selma and the new bill, army troops escorted the marchers
across the bridge successfully. Infront of a crowd of 25,000 King spoke
about his side in this. Later on in August, the President signed the Voting
Rights Act which guarenteed African Americans the right to vote.
c. thesis statement: During the Civil Rights Movement, many Activists such as Martin
Luther King, Hosea Willliams and Federal goverment amendment number 15 and
President Lyndon Baines Johnson all contributed to the process. Without the strong
efforts of the activists, voting rights would may have never changed.

2. BODY PARAGRAPH 1: What role have the activists played in securing voting rights for
African Americans?
a. Martin Luther King was the man who encouraged the African Americans and
made it clear to everyone that they werent going to stop fighting. He gave a life
changing speech, I have a dream which gave African Americans the hope that one day
they would get to be apart of our country.
b. Hosea Williams was the National Director of Voter Registration and Political
Education for the SCLC in 1965. Williams helped organize the marches like where they
would rest, when they would rest, make sure people had food, and volunteers. She was
very confident and just wanted freedom.

3. BODY PARAGRAPH 2: What role has the federal government played in securing those
rights?
a. President Lyndon B. Johnson played an important role in trying to help the
African Americans vote. Johnson used a powerful speech to change the the United
States. He not only tried to force whites to allow African Americans the right to vote, but
than he gaurenteeded that African Americans can vote by signing the Voting Rights Act
which banned the use of a litercay test.
b. The 15th amendment states, right of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude."
4. BODY PARAGRAPH 3: Evaluate how important each groups role was in expanding voting
rights to include African Americans. (You must discuss why/how ones groups role was more
significant.)
a. The activists were more effective in expanding voting rights because without
them loosing lives, their long marches, and dedication the govenment wouldnt have
realized how difficult it was for African Americans.
b. Not only was it African Americans fighting for their voting rights, but whites also
did too which was very alarming to the government. It was one thing for a black man to
die, but if a white man did than it was a different story. The government did play an
important role as well, but all they did was enforce the laws. Yes, this movement couldnt
have been a success without the government, but the activists are the ones who made
the government sign the acts, guide the marchers, and the 15th amendment passed.
5. CONCLUSION:
a. restate thesis: During the Civil Rights Movement, many Activists such as Martin
Luther King, Hosea Willliams and Federal goverment amendment number 15 and
President Lyndon Baines Johnson all contributed to the process. Even though both sides
made great effects, the activists contributed more.
b. final, insight closing remarks (try to link to the voting rights nowaday) The Civil
Rights movement was a learning expirence that brought our country together, without
the sacrafice of many strong men and women, voting rights would still be a problem that
this country would face.

Emily Osterman
3/25/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt
Introduction:

According to History.com, In 1965, 2% of Selmas eligible black voters managed to

register. During the 54 mile march to the state capital, the marchers were attacked by Alabama
state troopers with nightsticks, tear gas, and whips when they refused to turn back from the
Puettus Bridge that led into Alabama. This cause more priests, rabbis, and ministers to join the
voting rights campaign. After a fail attempt in crossing the bridge again, President Johnson
spoke about his support towards Selma and how he set forth army troops to escorted the
marchers across the bridge. African Americans struggled to find hope in getting what they
wanted: the right to vote. As time went on, many deaths, more complications, and leaders came
forth. During the Civil Rights Movement, many Activists such as Martin Luther King, Hosea
Willliams and Federal goverment amendment number 15 and President Lyndon Baines
Johnson all contributed to the process. Without the strong efforts of the activists pushing the
government to their side, voting rights would may have never changed.

Emily Osterman
3/27/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt

BODY PARAGRAPH 1:

The activists spent many hours of dedication to fullfill the needs and wishes that they
demanded to recieve. Martin Luther King Jr. was the man who encouraged the African
Americans and made it clear to everyone that they were not going to stop fighting. He gave a
life changing speech, which gave African Americans the hope that one day they would get to be
apart of our country. King states, Nineteen sixty-three is not the end, but a beginning(19).
Martin Luther King Jr. was there after deaths to comfort, he was there to guide them as the
marched, and he was there to communicate with everyone in the world about what was going
on and how to help. Hosea Williams was the National Director of Voter Registration and
Political Education for the SCLC in 1965. Williams helped organize the marches like where they
would rest, when they would rest, make sure people had food, and volunteers. He was very
confident and just wanted freedom. After crossing the bridge Williams states, ..it was one of the
most gratifying and most memorable moments of my whole life. I dont think Ive ever seen
Americans more ready and willing to suffer and sacrafice, for human dignity..(29). Hosea
Williams did not care what he had to do to get the freedom, whether it was risking his life,
watching people risk theirs, plan events for hours, and show how strong he was. No matter how
many times the activists were misunderstood, they never let it get to their heads.

Emily Osterman
3/27/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt

BODY PARAGRAPH 2:

1. President Lyndon B. Johnson played an important role in trying to help the

African Americans vote. Johnson used a powerful speech that informed the United
States that he wanted African Americans to be equal as well. Johnson states, There is
no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There
is only an American problem.(38). Instead of blamming the voting rights on a specific
group, Johnson looks at the big picture and blames it on everyone. He not only tried to
force whites to allow African Americans the right to vote, but than he gaurenteeded that
African Americans can vote by signing the Voting Rights Act which banned the use of a
litercay test. The 15th amendment served great graditude towards changing the United
States. According to http://www.loc.gov/, 15th amendment states, right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any
state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This gave all African
American men the right to vote. After the 13th amendment, allowing African Americans to
become a citizen, and the 14th amendment, giving everyone equal protection, the
African Americans still didnt feel as equal as the other races. As the marches became
more violent, the government knew something had to be done, so they passed the 15th
amendment. As the violence towards African Americans became more frequent, teh
government scrambled together to change the nation.

Emily Osterman
3/27/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt

BODY PARAGRAPH 3:

The activists were more effective in expanding voting rights because without them loosing lives,
their long marches, and dedication the govenment wouldnt have realized how difficult it was for
African Americans. Not only were the marches for grouping everyone together, but also to show
the government what was going on. John Lewis says, So they came towards us, pushing and
trampling us with the horses and beating, and then they released the tear gas,(29). The African
Americans took the risk of getting killed just to show what actually was going on. Not only was it
African Americans fighting for their voting rights, but whites also did too which was very alarming
to the government. It was one thing for a black man to die, but if a white man did than it was a
different story. SCLC stated, James Reeb, a white minister from Boston, was fatally beaten by
a group of segregationists. Six days later, on March 15th, Persident Lyndon Johnson went of
national television to pledge his support to Selma,(25) After the news came out of a white man
dying because of the terrible laws, the government got right on the problem. The government
did play an important role as well, but all they did was enforce the laws. Yes, this movement
could not have been a success without the government, but the activists are the ones who
made the government sign the acts, guide the marchers, and the 15th amendment passed.

Emily Osterman
3/27/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt

CONCLUSION:

The Civil Rights Movement included many Activists such as Martin Luther King, Hosea
Willliams, the 15th amendment, and President Lyndon Baines Johnson all contributed to getting
voting rights. Without the Activists never giving up, the government might have never noticed
these issues. The Civil Rights movement was a learning expirence that brought our country
together, without the sacrafice of many strong men and women, voting rights would still be a
problem that the United States would face.

Emily Osterman
3/30/15
MOD 2

Mrs. McDevitt

Civil Rights Essay:

According to History.com, In 1965, 2% of Selmas eligible black voters managed to

register. During the 54 mile march to the state capital, the marchers were attacked by Alabama
state troopers with nightsticks, tear gas, and whips when they refused to turn back from the
Pettus Bridge that led into Alabama. This cause more priests, rabbis, and ministers to join the
voting rights campaign. After a failed attempt at crossing the bridge again, President Johnson
spoke about his support towards Selma and how he set forth army troops to escorted the
marchers across the bridge. African Americans struggled to find hope in getting what they
wanted: the right to vote. As time went on, many deaths, more complications, and leaders came
forth. During the Civil Rights Movement, the Activists and federal government, such as Martin
Luther King, Hosea Williams, amendment number 15, and President Lyndon Baines Johnson all
contributed to the process of changing voting rights.
The activists spent many hours of dedication to fulfilling the needs and wishes that they
demanded to receive. Martin Luther King Jr. was the man who encouraged the African
Americans and made it clear to everyone that they were not going to stop fighting. He gave a
life changing speech, which gave African Americans the hope that one day they would get to be
a part of the United States. King states, Nineteen sixty-three is not the end, but a
beginning(19). Martin Luther King Jr. was there after deaths to comfort, he was there to guide
them as the marched, and he was there to communicate with everyone in the world about what
was going on and how to help. Hosea Williams was the National Director of Voter Registration
and Political Education for the SCLC in 1965. Williams helped organize the marches like where
they would rest, when they would rest, make sure people had food, and the volunteers. He was
very confident and just wanted freedom. After crossing the bridge, Williams states, ..it was one
of the most gratifying and most memorable moments of my whole life. I dont think Ive ever

seen Americans more ready and willing to suffer and sacrifice, for human dignity..(29). Hosea
Williams did not care what he had to do to get the freedom, whether it was risking his life,
watching people risk theirs, plan events for hours or show how strong he was. No matter how
many times the activists were misunderstood, they never let it get to their heads.
The federal government didnt always agree with the Activists decisions, but they soon
realized what issues were going on. President Lyndon B. Johnson played an important role in
trying to help the African Americans vote. Johnson used a powerful speech that informed the
United States that he wanted African Americans to be equal as well. Johnson states, There is
no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only
an American problem.(38). Instead of blaming the voting rights on a specific group, Johnson
looks at the big picture and blames it on everyone. He not only tried to force whites to allow
African-Americans the right to vote, but then he guaranteed that African-Americans can vote by
signing the Voting Rights Act which banned the use of a literacy test. The 15th amendment
served great gratitude towards changing the United States. According to http://www.loc.gov/,
15th amendment states, right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of
servitude." This gave all African American men the right to vote. After the 13th amendment,
allowing African Americans to become a citizen, and the 14th amendment, giving everyone
equal protection, the African Americans still did not feel as equal as the other races. As the
marches became more violent, the government knew something had to be done, so they
passed the 15th amendment. As the violence towards African Americans became more
frequent, the government scrambled together to change the nation.
The activists were more effective in expanding voting rights because without them losing
lives, their long marches, and dedication the government would not have realized how difficult it
was for African Americans. Not only were the marches for grouping everyone together, but also
to show the government what was going on. John Lewis says, So they came towards us,

pushing and trampling us with the horses and beating, and then they released the tear gas(29).
The African Americans took the risk of getting killed just to allow the march to be publically
shown everywhere. Not only was it African-Americans fighting for their voting rights, but whites
also did too which was very alarming to the government. It was one thing for a black man to die,
but if a white man did then it was a different story. SCLC stated, James Reeb, a white minister
from Boston, was fatally beaten by a group of segregationists. Six days later, on March 15th,
President Lyndon Johnson went on national television to pledge his support to Selma(25). After
the news came out of a white man dying because of the terrible laws, the government got right
on the problem. The government did play an important role as well, but all they did was enforce
the laws. Yes, this movement could not have been a success without the government, but the
activists are the ones who made the government sign the acts, guide the marchers, and the
15th amendment passed.
The Civil Rights Movement included many Activists such as Martin Luther King, Hosea
Williams, the 15th amendment, and President Lyndon Baines Johnson all contributed to getting
voting rights laws passed. While the Activists kept on marching, the government was busy trying
to find a way to make the country whole. The Civil Rights movement was a learning experience
that brought our country together, without the sacrifice of many strong men and women, voting
rights would still be a problem that the United States would face.