Richard Nixon

Did President Nixon support civil rights for black people?

President Nixon was not as committed to the civil rights of African Americans as President Johnson.

What changes did Nixon make to support civil rights?

He took 4 key actions that helped African Americans.

• ❖ He encouraged African Americans people to start their own businesses and to buy their own homes.
• ❖ He continued the policy of affirmative action started by President Johnson, which involved encouraging employers to deliberately choose an African American person over a white one.
• ❖ More African American officials were appointed to roles in his government.
• ❖ In 1972, the terms of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were amended to completely ban literacy tests.

How successful were Nixon's actions for civil rights?

Civil rights had progressed a lot since 1954. However, African Americans were still paid less than their white counterparts, continued to live in ghettos, and were still poorly treated by the police.