Compare the tables.
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|l|}
\hline \multicolumn{4}{|c|}{Congressional Voting - Civil Rights Act of 1957} \\
\hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{} & Yes & No \\
\hline \multirow[b]{2}{*}{House} & Republican & 167 & 19 \\
\hline & Democrat & 119 & 107 \\
\hline \multirow[b]{2}{*}{Senate} & Republican & 43 & 0 \\
\hline & Democrat & 29 & 18 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|l|}
\hline \multicolumn{4}{|c|}{Congressional Voting - Civil Rights Act of 1965} \\
\hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{} & Yes & No \\
\hline \multirow[b]{2}{*}{House} & Republican & 109 & 20 \\
\hline & Democrat & 218 & 54 \\
\hline \multirow[b]{2}{*}{Senate} & Republican & 30 & 1 \\
\hline & Democrat & 49 & 16 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
Answer (1)
Calculate the percentage of 'Yes' votes for each party in the House and Senate for both 1957 and 1965.
Compare the 'Yes' vote percentages between the two years.
Observe that Democratic support increased significantly from 1957 to 1965 in both chambers.
Note that Republican support decreased slightly from 1957 to 1965 in both chambers.
Conclude that there was a shift in party alignment on civil rights issues. The final answer is a comparison of the voting patterns between the two Civil Rights Acts, noting the increase in Democratic support and the slight decrease in Republican support.
Democratic support increased, Republican support decreased.
Explanation
Understanding the Data We are given two tables showing how members of the House and Senate voted on the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1965. The votes are broken down by party (Republican and Democrat) into 'Yes' and 'No' votes. Our goal is to compare the voting patterns between the two Acts, looking at the differences in how each party and chamber voted.
Calculating Percentages First, let's calculate the percentage of 'Yes' votes for each group in each year. This will help us see the trends more clearly.
Listing the Percentages From our calculations, we have the following percentages of 'Yes' votes:
1957:
House Republican: 90%
House Democrat: 53%
Senate Republican: 100%
Senate Democrat: 62%
1965:
House Republican: 84%
House Democrat: 80%
Senate Republican: 97%
Senate Democrat: 75%
Comparing the Percentages Now, let's compare the percentages between the two years to identify any significant changes:
House Republicans: Support decreased from 90% in 1957 to 84% in 1965.
House Democrats: Support increased significantly from 53% in 1957 to 80% in 1965.
Senate Republicans: Support decreased slightly from 100% in 1957 to 97% in 1965.
Senate Democrats: Support increased from 62% in 1957 to 75% in 1965.
Drawing Conclusions From this comparison, we can observe that:
Democrats in both the House and Senate showed a significant increase in support for the Civil Rights Act from 1957 to 1965.
Republicans in both the House and Senate showed a slight decrease in support for the Civil Rights Act from 1957 to 1965.
This suggests a shift in party alignment on civil rights issues between the two time periods.
Final Answer In summary, comparing the congressional voting records on the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1965 reveals that Democratic support increased substantially in both the House and Senate, while Republican support saw a slight decrease. This indicates a notable shift in party attitudes toward civil rights legislation during this period.
Examples
Understanding historical voting patterns, such as those for the Civil Rights Acts, helps us analyze political trends and shifts in societal attitudes. For example, analyzing voting records can reveal how different political parties have evolved their stances on key issues over time. This knowledge is crucial for informed civic engagement, policy-making, and understanding the dynamics of political change. By studying these patterns, we can better understand the forces that shape legislation and society.
