Question

3 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbade discrimination in voting on the basis of

race. However, efforts led by civil rights organizations to register black voters
were met with fierce resistance in southern states. In Alabama's Dallas County, the
local county sherriff had led a steadfast opposition to black voter registration drives.
As a result, only 2 percent of Selma's eligible black voters had managed to register.
What can be concluded about the South's reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1964
based on this information from the text?

Answer 1

The South's reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 involved significant resistance to black voter registration, as evidenced by the fierce opposition and low black voter registration rates in places like Selma, Alabama.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the information provided, it can be concluded that the South's reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was largely one of resistance and opposition, particularly in southern states like Alabama. Despite the Act's intent to end discrimination in voting, local officials and segregationists actively worked to prevent black Americans from registering as voters. Evidence of this includes the violent responses to civil rights activities in Selma, the very low percentage of registered black voters in cities like Selma (with only 2 percent of eligible black voters registered), and the use of bureaucratic obstacles such as literacy tests to disenfranchise African American voters. The opposition to black voter registration prompted leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to focus efforts on areas like Selma to highlight the issue, which ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, addressing the disenfranchisement tactics employed.

Answer 2

South's reaction to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was reactionary as the white southerners look for alternative ways to block freedom guaranteed to the blacks by law.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 1964 Civil Rights Act was a huge success for the civil rights activist but could not be able to stop the civil rights movement. Southern conservatives have used lawful and judicial means to deny their civil rights to black Southerners. They were still rooted in traditional culture and considered blacks as second class citizens. On the other hand, racial segregation in the North led any African-Americans to find space in second class housing and educational institutions.