Civil Rights Act of 1964
The 1964 Civil Rights Act was one of the most significant milestones in the decade-long nonviolent struggle for civil rights since the Reconstruction Era. Bringing Congress and the federal government fully into the civil rights struggle along with the Supreme Court, the act made it clear for the first time that the government would live up to its constitutional requirements to protect all its citizens. The act eliminated some of the obstacles to voting faced by African Americans, separation of blacks and whites in public accommodations, made it illegal to discriminate against minorities in the workplace, and ordered the desegregation of public schools. Although many people felt that the act did not go far enough, it was a milestone in the civil rights movement.
In June 1963, President Kennedy urged Congress to enact a bill to meet the demands of African Americans for equality among all people. It was a law that banned discrimination in the basis of sex, race, national origin, or religion in public places and most workplaces. Two days after the bill was presented to Congress, Kennedy was assassinated. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy's successor, was able to urge Congress to pass the bill. He faced strong resistance in the Senate from southerners who feared that the Civil Rights Act would allow the federal government to interfere in their local affairs. Johnson continued to press Congress to pass the act even though he knew his own Democratic Party could lose its large base of southern voters because of it. After a major struggle in the Senate, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed on July 2.
In the early 1960s, unfairly administered literacy (reading and writing) tests were being used in some southern states to keep blacks from voting. Though the 1964 act did not eliminate literacy tests, it prohibited local officials from applying different standards to blacks and whites when administering the tests in federal elections. The results of the public accommodations provisions of the 1964 act were more impressive. Hotels, restaurants, service stations, entertainment centers, and government-owned public facilities were forbidden to discriminate or refuse service because of race, color, religion, or national origin. Although the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was not allowed after Brown v. Board of Education, the Court had little power in enforcing this ruling. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Congress took its place with the Court in the stand against discrimination in schools. Desegregation of public schools, however, proved extremely difficult, and in some areas it is still not accomplished today.
By: Hannah L.
In June 1963, President Kennedy urged Congress to enact a bill to meet the demands of African Americans for equality among all people. It was a law that banned discrimination in the basis of sex, race, national origin, or religion in public places and most workplaces. Two days after the bill was presented to Congress, Kennedy was assassinated. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy's successor, was able to urge Congress to pass the bill. He faced strong resistance in the Senate from southerners who feared that the Civil Rights Act would allow the federal government to interfere in their local affairs. Johnson continued to press Congress to pass the act even though he knew his own Democratic Party could lose its large base of southern voters because of it. After a major struggle in the Senate, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed on July 2.
In the early 1960s, unfairly administered literacy (reading and writing) tests were being used in some southern states to keep blacks from voting. Though the 1964 act did not eliminate literacy tests, it prohibited local officials from applying different standards to blacks and whites when administering the tests in federal elections. The results of the public accommodations provisions of the 1964 act were more impressive. Hotels, restaurants, service stations, entertainment centers, and government-owned public facilities were forbidden to discriminate or refuse service because of race, color, religion, or national origin. Although the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was not allowed after Brown v. Board of Education, the Court had little power in enforcing this ruling. With the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Congress took its place with the Court in the stand against discrimination in schools. Desegregation of public schools, however, proved extremely difficult, and in some areas it is still not accomplished today.
By: Hannah L.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it easier for African Americans to register to vote by elimination discriminatory literacy tests and authorizing federal examiners to enroll voters denied at the local level. Because of this bill, the percentage of registered African American voters in the South Tripled. In Selma, the proportion of African Americans registered to vote rose to 60 percent in 1968 from 10 percent in 1964.
The effectiveness of the act was very great. In the immediate aftermath of the act's passage, impressive gains were made by federal authorities; in the first six months, they registered more than 100,000 southern blacks, while local officials, aware of the threat of federal action, added another 200,000. In 1965, some 2 million African Americans were registered to vote in the South; by mid-1970, that figure had jumped to 3.3 million.
During Richard M. Nixon's and Gerald Ford's, commitment to the act decreased. Many southern officials resisted the Voting Rights Act, challenging its constitutionality in court and continuing to withhold the ballot from African American voters. They also found ways to weaken the black community's voting power. Using a variety of techniques, including redrawing voting districts to break up black majorities and imposing new restrictions and property qualifications on political candidates, southern politicians made it difficult for black candidates to run for and win office.
By: Hannah L.
The effectiveness of the act was very great. In the immediate aftermath of the act's passage, impressive gains were made by federal authorities; in the first six months, they registered more than 100,000 southern blacks, while local officials, aware of the threat of federal action, added another 200,000. In 1965, some 2 million African Americans were registered to vote in the South; by mid-1970, that figure had jumped to 3.3 million.
During Richard M. Nixon's and Gerald Ford's, commitment to the act decreased. Many southern officials resisted the Voting Rights Act, challenging its constitutionality in court and continuing to withhold the ballot from African American voters. They also found ways to weaken the black community's voting power. Using a variety of techniques, including redrawing voting districts to break up black majorities and imposing new restrictions and property qualifications on political candidates, southern politicians made it difficult for black candidates to run for and win office.
By: Hannah L.
Civil Rights Act of 1968
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was a law that banned discrimination in housing. The primary responsibility to enforce the law fell on the shoulders of individuals who could file civil suits if they believed they had suffered discrimination. Indeed, in the years since its passage, few American cities have reduced racial residential segregation substantially.
Activists had pressured President John F. Kennedy to fulfill a campaign promise and issue Executive Order 11063, banning discrimination in housing where federal government funds were involved. This and many other efforts weren't sufficient to lessen the universal and definite racial segregation that plagued the nation's cities. And the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act left housing discrimination unaddressed.
For his part, President Lyndon B. Johnson offered fair housing legislation in both 1966 and 1967, but intense opposition from Southern senators and waning support for civil rights resulted in defeat. Fair housing legislation returned to the Senate in 1968 as an amendment to a bill to protect civil rights workers. This time, supporters worked out compromises to gain the crucial support of Senator Everett Dirkson, the Republican leader from Illinois. The bill passed the Senate, seventy-one to twenty, in early March after the Kerner Commission issued its report implicating housing discrimination as a central factor in ghetto poverty and black anger. The assassination of Dr. King undermined the bill's opposition in the House of Representatives and on April 10, the House passed it, 229 to 195, with significant support from liberal Republicans.
By: Hannah L.
Activists had pressured President John F. Kennedy to fulfill a campaign promise and issue Executive Order 11063, banning discrimination in housing where federal government funds were involved. This and many other efforts weren't sufficient to lessen the universal and definite racial segregation that plagued the nation's cities. And the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act left housing discrimination unaddressed.
For his part, President Lyndon B. Johnson offered fair housing legislation in both 1966 and 1967, but intense opposition from Southern senators and waning support for civil rights resulted in defeat. Fair housing legislation returned to the Senate in 1968 as an amendment to a bill to protect civil rights workers. This time, supporters worked out compromises to gain the crucial support of Senator Everett Dirkson, the Republican leader from Illinois. The bill passed the Senate, seventy-one to twenty, in early March after the Kerner Commission issued its report implicating housing discrimination as a central factor in ghetto poverty and black anger. The assassination of Dr. King undermined the bill's opposition in the House of Representatives and on April 10, the House passed it, 229 to 195, with significant support from liberal Republicans.
By: Hannah L.