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Why It Matters Now Urban Growth and Thanks to the efforts of Texas 2 civil rights leaders, today’s Texans enjoy far more justice and equality Civil Rights than ever. TERMS & NAMES OBJECTIVES MAIN IDEA James L. Farmer, Jr., 1. Describe economic factors and indus- After World War II, millions of baby boom, Gilmer-Aiken tries that led to the growth of cities in Texans moved to cities. Those who Bills, Héctor P. García, Texas. could afford it moved to areas just Civil Rights Act of 1964 2. Explain the functions of government at outside the cities. Many minority the municipal level. citizens faced growing discrimina- 3. Analyze the civil rights movement in tion in jobs, housing, education, Texas and identify key leaders. and social services.
Many Texans enjoyed a good life in the period after World War II. However, some Texans did not have equal opportunities to find good jobs and housing. Some minority citizens took action and fought for equality. Texas civil rights leader James L. Farmer, Jr., organized the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in 1942 to fight for justice without using violence. Segregation will go on as long as we permit it to. Words are not enough, there must James L. Farmer, Jr. be action. We must withhold our support and participation from the institution of segregation in every area of American life . . . as a coordinated movement of mass non-cooperation. James L. Farmer, Jr., Lay Bare the Heart In this section, you will read about the changes in society in the postwar period and the struggles for equal rights.
Rapid Growth of Texas Cities In the years following World War II, over half of all Texans lived in urban areas. Thanks to technology and other industries, cities like Dallas and Fort Worth were bursting at the seams. Military personnel who had trained in San Antonio during the war now wanted to move their families there permanently. In 1948 Houston was one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Johnson Space Center and the petrochemicals industry helped the boom continue for many years. Signs showing discrimination, 1950s
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SUBURBS The 1950s were a time of prosperity for many Texans. Rows and rows of houses were being built outside large cities. Suburbanites filled their new homes with dishwashers, electric refrigerators, washers and dryers, televisions, and record players. Their garages held new cars and lawn mowers. Schools and Texas City, 1950s shopping centers sprouted up to fill their needs. For these mostly Anglo, middle-class Texans, life in the suburbs was the fulfillment of the American Dream. Today Texas suburbs are continuing to expand. Houses are larger and closer together to accommodate all the new Texans. Suburbs in places such as Arlington are nearly as large as the cities they surround. Some subur- ban communities have gates to keep out outsiders. ● How do you think suburban life today is similar to and different from suburban life in the 1950s? Suburb under construction, 2001
The Growth of Suburbs As Texas cities were growing, so were the families living in them. Veterans who had put off marrying until after the war now wanted to raise families. This, along with the nation’s healthy economy, created a baby boom the sudden increase baby boom in the United States. From 1946 to 1964, the number of U.S. in births in the United States families with three or four children grew dramatically. following World War II The baby boom in Texas and the rest of the United States contributed
to the development of suburbs. Growing families left small houses in the ▲ This Mexican American veteran city and moved to larger houses outside of town. The GI Bill, which helped is showing the medal he earned American veterans pay for education and other expenses, offered low-cost fighting in World War II, yet after the war the only work he could find home loans to veterans and $2,000 toward the purchase of a new home. was farm labor. ● How do you think Suburban families wanted schools and shopping centers closer to he felt? home. Soon many schools, stores, restaurants, and movie theaters moved into the Texas suburbs. Growing Populations, Growing Problems For many, suburban life was the realization of the American dream. However, life was often less pleasant for those left behind in Texas cities. Typically, only people with good jobs could afford to move to the suburbs. This left the poorer people living in the inner cities. Due to housing discrimination, many minorities also were trapped in cities. Because the urban poor paid little in taxes, city services began to suffer. Fewer trained police officers could be kept on the payroll, and city crime rates soared. Neighborhood fire departments struggled to pay for enough firefighters and equipment to handle emergencies. Trash collection and sewer services often were unable to meet the needs. Polluted water and air in cities and industrialized areas became a health threat to many.
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Reforming Public Education Meanwhile, the boom in the number of children being born and the growth of Texas cities left public schools severely overcrowded. In addition, some of the students moving into Texas spoke different languages and had different schooling backgrounds. Many schools were unable to serve the wide range of educational needs. Rural ▲ Many minority students in postwar schools were no better off. Although they were smaller, they needed money Texas attended separate schools to offer their students the same opportunities city students enjoyed. that did not have adequate teach- Because of overcrowding, lack of funding, and other problems, Texas ers, textbooks, or facilities. ● Why was education such an important schools were ranked among the lowest in the nation after World War II. issue to minority Texans? In an effort to improve the quality of education, a twelfth grade was added, and classes were expanded to include fine arts and job training. In 1949, the Texas legislature passed the Gilmer-Aiken Bills. These bills improved teacher training, raised teacher salaries, provided textbooks for all students, and required students to attend school for nine months each year. The bills also set up the Texas Education Agency to set and review standards for Texas teachers and public schools.
The Fight for Discrimination Voting Rights In order to solve the other problems facing Texas, a larger issue had to After Reconstruction the poll be addressed—discrimination. After fighting bravely for their country in tax and acts of violence kept World War II, minority veterans had hoped they would return to a differ- most minority Texans from ent America—one in which all citizens were treated equally. They soon voting. From the 1920s on, Texans in the National Associa- discovered that little had changed. Minority Texans still faced restricted tion for the Advancement of opportunities and unfair treatment in work, education, housing, and Colored People (NAACP) and health care. Due to threats and violence, many were afraid to vote. the League of United Latin The prosperity of the postwar years often skipped over minority American Citizens (LULAC) groups in Texas. While middle-class Anglo American families were fought for voting rights. Their moving to larger homes in the suburbs, African Americans, Mexican efforts finally helped get the poll tax abolished in 1964 and Americans, and other minorities were trapped in crumbling, overcrowded the Voting Rights Act passed in cities. Because of unfair hiring practices, most minorities had low-paying 1965. Texas, however, still had jobs and could not afford a move to the suburbs. Even if they could, most a poll tax on state and local would have been denied quality housing. elections until the Texas Consti- Many minority Texans were unable to make their voices heard tution was amended in 1966. ● because they could not vote. In 1904 the state had passed a law that Why was it so important to abolish the poll tax? required voters to pay a poll tax in order to vote. Because many Hispanics and African Americans were poor, few could register to vote. Many were also threatened with violence to keep them from voting.
Texans Struggle for Civil Rights Until now, minorities’ complaints about discrimination had largely fallen on deaf ears. After World War II, however, minority veterans began making their voices heard. Hispanic veteran Héctor P. García was one of the most vocal leaders in Texas. In 1948 he founded the American GI Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther Forum. This organization helped minority veterans obtain the same King at the signing of the Voting Rights benefits other veterans received, including health care, housing, and Act of 1965
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education. Under García’s leadership, Hispanic veterans also began demanding that businesses serve people from minority groups in the same way that they served white customers. In 1948 the GI Forum and Héctor P. García the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) won a federal Héctor Perez García was born court case barring segregation of Hispanic children in the schools. in Mexico in 1914. His family African Americans also organized to end inequality in Texas. moved to Texas when he Following the lead of national figures such as Dr. Martin was very young. A high Luther King, Jr., African Americans demanded an end to school teacher once told segregation. The National Association for the Advancement him, “No Mexican will ever make an A in my of Colored People (NAACP) became a powerful voice for class.” García proved all minorities. Texan James Farmer, Jr., made great strides her wrong and went on for civil rights on a national level as well as at home. In to complete medical 1942 he founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). school. Dr. García He then went on to lead peaceful protests throughout the earned the Bronze Star South in the 1960s. in World War II. García devoted his life to improving As a result of these and other people’s tireless efforts, the the lives of Hispanics. He U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This new law founded the American GI made it illegal for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other public places Forum to address discrimina- to discriminate against people on the basis of race. Other new laws made tion in health care, education, it illegal to deny equal housing opportunities and to charge a poll tax or ● jobs, and voting. In what otherwise keep minorities from voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ways do you think being a doctor made García a good removed obstacles to minority Texans voting. They finally had the power leader? to elect representatives of their choice.
2 Terms & Names Organizing Information On the basis of your 3. How did individual Texans Identify: Using a diagram like the completed diagram, would contribute to the fight for • James L. one shown, identify you rather have lived in a civil rights in the 1940s, Farmer, Jr. four cause-and-effect city or in a suburb in post- 1950s, and 1960s? war Texas? Explain. • baby boom relationships concerning A Real-Life Story • Gilmer-Aiken Bills cities and suburbs. Critical Thinking Review A Real-Life Story on •Héctor P. García CAUSE EFFECT • Civil Rights Act 1. What caused Texas cities page 509. What is the main of 1964 to grow dramatically after idea of this excerpt from World War II? James Farmer, Jr.’s autobi- 2. In what ways were munici- ography? How did Farmer pal governments over- put his feelings about segre- whelmed by the rapid gation into action? growth of Texas cities?
Go to www.celebratingtexas.com ACTIVITY to research the Activity topic. Research the accomplishments of civil rights leaders of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Complete a History class chart listing Texas Leaders, Other U.S. Leaders, Accomplishments, and Results.
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