Civil Rights Act of 1964

Build- Up 1957: civil rights section of the Justice Department established Commision on Civil Rights also established to investigate discriminatory conditions 1960: Congress provided for court-appointed referees to help blacks register to vote 1961: JFK intially delayed supporting new anti-discrimination measures 1963: proposed most comprehensive civil rights legislation, saying the US “will not be fully free until all of citizens are free”

House of Congress After JFK’s assassination, Johnson took up the cause House of Congress had arguments from Southerners that it was unconstitutional Usurped individual liberties and states’ rights (it didn’t) Bill passes with bipartisan support; the vote was 290-130

US Senate Only time MLK and Malcolm X met Southern and border state Democrats staged a 75 day filibuster Senate voted 73-27 and gained the two-thirds vote Became an official law July 2, 1964

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x0l_vkjozc

Additions The Civil Rights Act was later expanded to bring disabled Americans, the elderly and women in collegiate athletics under its umbrella Paved way for Voting Rights Act of 1965 an Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of property Though the struggle against racism would continue, legal segregation had been brought to its knees

Voting Rights Act 1965

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9VdyPbbzlI

Act now! Time for a change This act was signed by Lyndon B Johnson on August 6, 1965 at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. This was designed to enforce the voting rights of the 14th and 15th amendment. This act had secured the right to vote for the racial minorities throughout the country.

The act banned the use of literacy tests, provided for federal oversight of voter registration in areas where less than 50 percent of the nonwhite population had not registered to vote, and authorized the U.S. attorney general to investigate the use of poll taxes in state and local elections. By the end of 1965, 250,000 new black voters had been registered. Immediately there was a change

Selma to Montgomery March On March 7, 1965, a group of African-Americans marched into Selma, Alabama, as a peaceful protest against voter suppression. This march lasted for three days and with the involvement with Martin Luther King Jr made this march extra eye-catching The marchers were attacked by state troopers in what became known as “Bloody Sunday.” This non-violent protest was meant with violence, that was horrifying. “Bloody Sunday” was one of the most prominent marches that has ever occurred, it was so successful that later that year the Civil Rights Act was passed.

Conclusion The voting rights act was way more efficient than any other act that had been done in the past. This really did change the movement into a more positive light. From then on there were more changes into the right direction the helped desegregate the South and allowed for better treatment socially.

compiled from the Senate and House Reports