1962-1963 Standoffs

In November 1963, President John F. Kennedy appealed to Americans to support the civil rights of black citizens to equality in education, public accommodations and voting. Days after his speech on the proposed Civil Rights Act, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Discussion Points

• How did Kennedy's assassination affect the civil rights legislation?
• What role did Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, play in the passage of civil rights laws?
• What did the civil rights laws of the 1960s accomplish?
• How has the passage of those civil rights laws shaped today's political landscape?