Lyndon B Johnson Dbq

On July 2, 1964, pens were used to change the lives of every American citizen. Lyndon B. Johnson, the man who changed lives, was born on a farm near Stonewall in the Hill Country of central Texas. He taught 5th through 7th grade in a small Mexican-American school and then later taught at a high school in Houston. Later in 1931, Johnson took his enthusiasm and ambition with him to Washington, D.C. where he worked as a congressman (BE). So, why did L.B.J. sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964? If political decisions are calculated and in one’s own self-interest, then the Public Opinion Polls, the Sincerity Question, and the 1957 Stumbling Block show that President Johnson was motivated to sign by his politics.
One example that reveals President Johnson’s political motivation can be found in Document B: “The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion”.There were polls of questions like “Do you think the Johnson Administration is pushing …show more content…
In this document there is evidence that Lyndon B. Johnson was persuading people but it didn't stop them from their suspicions. A African-American Civil-Rights leader, Roy Wilkins, was the one to ask Johnson about it. Johnson described himself as liberated because of his southern political bonds. Later on, the Texas senator became president and signed the bill. In all of this, Johnson said the people were “...free at last…,”(Document E).
In conclusion, the Public Opinion Polls, the Sincerity Question, and the 1957 Stumbling Block show that President Johnson was motivated to sign by his politics. Because of these reasons, Lyndon B. Johnson won the election of 1964. Also, Great Society programs like civil rights and education were improved due to the changes that Johnson made when he signed the bill. Now, America has changed due to these laws by ending segregation and being “...free at last…,” all because of the pens that were used to change many american’s