What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 do?

Answer 1

Since the Civil War (1860-1865) African-Americans still were treated unjustly. With the South's "Jim Crowe" laws that stated that African Americans were equal but separate. This meant they did not have the same rights as the majority of people. They had to drink from fountains labeled "Negroes only," or could not stay at a reputable hotel, even had bathrooms labeled "Negroes only." They also could not go to the same school with whites. In the 1950's and 1960's, the African-Americans were represented by two powerful speaking men Malcolm X and Rev Dr. Martin Luther King. On June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy urged the nation to take action toward guaranteeing equal treatment of every American regardless of race on national T.V. Soon after, Kennedy proposed that Congress consider civil rights legislation that would address voting rights, public accommodations, school desegregation, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, and more.

Despite Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963, his proposal culminated in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson just a few hours after House approval on July 2, 1964. The act outlawed segregation in businesses such as theaters, restaurants, and hotels. It banned discriminatory practices in employment and ended segregation in public places such as swimming pools, libraries, and public schools.

Passage of the act was not easy. House opposition bottled up the bill in the House Rules Committee. In the Senate, opponents attempted to talk the bill to death in a filibuster. In early 1964, House supporters overcame the Rules Committee obstacle by threatening to send the bill to the floor without committee approval. The Senate filibuster was overcome through the floor leadership of Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, the considerable support of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the efforts of Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois, who convinced Republicans to support the bill.

Answer 2

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to protect the right to vote. Federal observers would be placed at the polls to make sure all citizens had the right to vote. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 outlawed discrimination in housing and the selling of real estate. There is no Civil Rights Act of 1967 but Congress did pass the Age Discrimination in Employment Act that year which prohibited employment discrimination against individuals 40 years of age or older.