Birmingham Campaign 1963 — Consequences

Consequence 1

End of segregation in Birmingham

Examples of desegregation of Birmingham

-desegregation of public facilities, including signs 'white' and 'coloured' removed from toilets and drinking fountains
-Lunch counters opened to African Americans
-Whites hired African Americans in jobs previously held by whites
-public school desegregated in September 1963
-Municipal (public) Golf courses, libraries, public building desegregated

Analysis of desegregation of Birmingham

-great victory and huge morale boost towards civil rights movement in America
-Showed what community response and perseverance could achieve
-proved the effectiveness of non violent direct action
-success of campaign established MLK as leader of civil rights movement

Link of desegregation of Birmingham

desegregation in Birmingham is a main consequence of the Birmingham campaign as it proved the great success of the campaign and lead to the integration of several public facilities, such as libraries, schools and drinking fountains.

Consequence 2

June 1963 President John F. Kennedy introduced Civil Rights Bill to Congress, later becomes 1964 Civil Rights Act

Examples of Civil Rights Bill

-Negative media attention and America's reputation urged JFK to take action—on June 11th 1963, he introduced Civil Rights Bill 1963 to Congress
-Eventually became Civil Rights Act 1964-would have huge impact on lives of all black Americans in the USA if passed
-Civil Rights act 1964 was intended to end discrimination based on race, colour, religion or national origin
-the act gave federal law enforcement agencies the power to prevent racial discrimination in employment, voting and the use of public facilities
-Kennedy assassinated in 1963 November 22-his successor, President Johnson fought to ensure bill would become law

Analysis of Civil Rights Bill

-Hastened end of Jim Crow Laws
-secured African Americans equal access to restaurants, transportation and other public facilities
-enabled black,s women, other minorities to break down barriers in the workplace
-made equal education reality to black Americans who began attending integrated schools in the wake of the acts encforcement

Link of Civil Rights Bill

The Birmingham Campaign had provided the perfect example to America of why it was necessary to introduce a Civil Rights Bill.

Consequence 3

Negative white backlash in Birmingham and throughout the South

Examples of negative white backlash

-Murder of Medgar Evers—in Mississippi, NAACPs only full time worker, shot dead in June 1963 by White Citizens Council member outside his front door, on front of his wife and children
ｰSunday school bombing—15th September 1963, Sunday school bombing at Birmingham's largest Negro Church , 16th Street Baptist Church,claimed the lives of 4 young girls:Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair, and injured many more
-Murder of William Moore
-Murder of Civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Micheal Schwerner

Analysis of negative white backlash

-campaign successful in desegregating city, pushing president to take federal action against discrimination nationwide
-one of most racist cities in South strongly rejected integration of races

Link of negative white backlash

Such hateful responses only went to reinforce the idea that changing the law and desegregation of Birmingham would only be a small step towards improving black civil rights. Changing people's attitudes would be a munch harder battle to win.