Assess the view that the Supreme Court was the most influential branch of the federal
government in assisting AA rights
Political
o 1915 US Vs Guin- ruled that Grandfather clauses were unconstitutional
o 1944 smith Vs All wright – ruled that the white only Democrat Primary in Texas was
unconstitutional
o As a result, the AA vote during the War period had increased from 2% to 12%.
However
perhaps SC was actually the branch that hindered AA political rights:
o Mississippi V Williams 1898
By 1915 almost every southern state had introduced voting qualifications and the near
elimination of the black vote in the south was all but complete.
SC was limited in what it achieved
o Additionally, whilst the SC had made some political advancements, other forms of
Voting suppressions were legal such as ambiguously worded literacy tests that were
near enough impossible to pass and poll tax that many AA were unable to afford.
o Therefore, congress was more influential in assisting AA rights through passing
legislation that was enforceable and outlawed all voting qualifications.
Congress more important through legislations and Amendments passed
o 15th Amendment which gave AA the right to vote. Certainly prior to the advent of
voter suppressions which had been legitimised under the SC ruling in 1898, during
the reconstruction era, AA had seen political engagement on an unprecedented level
where 700,000 were enrolled to vote and 22 were even elected into Congress.
o 24th Amendment outlawed the Poll tax 1964
o Voting Rights Act 1965 - outlawed all voting suppressions and qualifications that had
been
However
o congress in some cases were still a hinderance often to Presidents who were more
favourable to the civil rights cause, preventing them from going forward with
favourable policy.
o For instance in 1946 Truman had established a civil rights committee to examine
conditions for AAs in the USA, the report recommended the outlawing of the poll tax
and introduction of voting rights for AAs. However, although Truman has called for
the implantation of these policies in his State of the Union speeches of 1947 and 48,
congress had refused to sanction these recommendations.
IJ – it was not until the Executive and Legislatures action of the 1960s that real change
occurred. SC was not therefore the most important branch
government in assisting AA rights
Political
o 1915 US Vs Guin- ruled that Grandfather clauses were unconstitutional
o 1944 smith Vs All wright – ruled that the white only Democrat Primary in Texas was
unconstitutional
o As a result, the AA vote during the War period had increased from 2% to 12%.
However
perhaps SC was actually the branch that hindered AA political rights:
o Mississippi V Williams 1898
By 1915 almost every southern state had introduced voting qualifications and the near
elimination of the black vote in the south was all but complete.
SC was limited in what it achieved
o Additionally, whilst the SC had made some political advancements, other forms of
Voting suppressions were legal such as ambiguously worded literacy tests that were
near enough impossible to pass and poll tax that many AA were unable to afford.
o Therefore, congress was more influential in assisting AA rights through passing
legislation that was enforceable and outlawed all voting qualifications.
Congress more important through legislations and Amendments passed
o 15th Amendment which gave AA the right to vote. Certainly prior to the advent of
voter suppressions which had been legitimised under the SC ruling in 1898, during
the reconstruction era, AA had seen political engagement on an unprecedented level
where 700,000 were enrolled to vote and 22 were even elected into Congress.
o 24th Amendment outlawed the Poll tax 1964
o Voting Rights Act 1965 - outlawed all voting suppressions and qualifications that had
been
However
o congress in some cases were still a hinderance often to Presidents who were more
favourable to the civil rights cause, preventing them from going forward with
favourable policy.
o For instance in 1946 Truman had established a civil rights committee to examine
conditions for AAs in the USA, the report recommended the outlawing of the poll tax
and introduction of voting rights for AAs. However, although Truman has called for
the implantation of these policies in his State of the Union speeches of 1947 and 48,
congress had refused to sanction these recommendations.
IJ – it was not until the Executive and Legislatures action of the 1960s that real change
occurred. SC was not therefore the most important branch
