1964 Civil Rights Act
How to use this topic to answer the 1.5 NCEA External Examination Essay:
Comprehensively describe the Causes and Consequences
of an Historical Event
1
Definitions:
Describe involves giving an account of the causes and consequences of an historical event, using appropriate
supporting evidence. This must be a meaningful narrative showing historical sequence or chronological order.
Describe in depth involves showing greater depth of understanding of the causes and consequences of an
historical event, using appropriate supporting evidence.
Comprehensively describe involves showing a thorough understanding of the causes and consequences of
an historical event, using appropriate supporting evidence.
2
Appropriate supporting evidence could include specific details such as names, dates, examples, statistics, or
case studies relevant to the context being described.
Comprehensively describe the Causes and Consequences of the
1964 Civil Rights Act
Background Causes (the increasing Black American demand for change, especially after World War 2
and the action of the NAACP which led to the 1954 Supreme Court decision are also part of the background)

Role of Martin Luther King Jnr and non-violent
protest, (eg 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and the
1963 Birmingham Campaign).

Changing views through media publicity, and
non-violent action (eg the 1955 murder of Emmett
Till, 1957 Little Rock High, 1960 Sit-ins and 1961
Freedom Rides, 1962 James Meredith and the
University of Mississippi and the September 1963
Sunday School Bombing in Birmingham).
Immediate Causes

August 1963 March on Washington.

November 1963 Assassination of
President Kennedy.
Event
1964 Civil Rights Act
Consequences


1965 Voting Rights Act
Constitutional Equality but still not Social Equality.
Led to Urban Riots (eg Watts), the formation of Black
Power groups (eg Black Panthers and Nation of Islam),
Change of direction with MLK (War on Poverty).
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