soning abilities to know what was best for themselves (Kaufman 2003, p.132). Indeed, in many western societies, black people were considered objects, while whites were considered subjects. White society contended that blacks could truly act in their own best interests, and racism was thus justified (Kaufman 2003, p.140).
When the Civil Rights movement began in 1960s, racism became even more rampant because white society felt increasingly threatened by the black community's outcry against racism. The oppressive laws in the United States, particularly in the South, were designed to keep black persons down, so African Americans could not use the same swimming pools, water fountains, bathrooms, and other public facilities as whites (Kaufman 2003, p.146). Schools were segregated as well, and all of these racist measures were sanctioned by law. Indeed, racism was a way to defend white supremacy in the 1960s, as white society was threatened by the mere suggestion of black equality.
2) When Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States in 1933, he was faced with the daunting task of constructing a recovery plan for the nation after the devastating effects of the Great Depression. His plan, which would soon become known as the New Deal, called for the direct intervention of the federal government in the lives of citizens suffering from unemployment and poverty, and thus, led to the creation of many new departments of government, including the Works Projects Administration, Farm Security Administration, and the Public Works Administration. Perhaps most notable was the passage of the Social Security Act, which organized a national system of old age pensions and provided federal and state relief for the unemployed (Jannson 1996, chp.7).
Despite Roosevelt's efforts, his New Deal plan faced many critics. Conservatives condemned it because they believed that Roosevelt was attempting to move the nation toward so...