Government Action in the Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Act of 1957 Provided government protections for African- Americans to vote – Not a powerful law, but an indication that the government would get more involved in the fight for Civil Rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Gave the federal government more power to fight racial discrimination – Made segregation illegal in most public places (restaurants, theaters, parks, etc) – Helped speed up the desegregation of schools – Required employers to end discriminating practices when hiring Creation of the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)

24 th Amendment Eliminated poll taxes for federal elections – Fees you had to pay in order to vote – Targeted African-Americans who made up most of the population living in poverty in the South

Voting Rights Act of 1965 Ended other discriminating practices in elections – Outlawed literacy tests Reading/writing tests that had to be passed in order to vote Targeted African-Americans who made up a large percentage of the population that was illiterate

Quick Review 1.What was the purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1957? 2.What issues did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 try to fix? 3.What issue did the 24 th Amendment fix? 4.What issue did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 fix? Make it easier for African-Americans to vote End segregation, equal employment opportunities Eliminated poll taxes Eliminated literacy tests

Supreme Court Cases to be Decided Fisher v. University of Texas – White girl rejected; claims it was due to racial preference which violates her 14 th amendment right (equal protection by the law for all races) Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action – Michigan law made affirmative action illegal – Law was challenged and deemed unconstitutional by an appeals court