Civil Rights Act, 1964

What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was an important step towards ending discrimination in the USA.

When was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed on 2nd July, 1964.

Who introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act was introduced by President Kennedy.

Who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

It was passed by President Johnson.

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 important?

There were 4 main reasons the Civil Rights Act was important.

• ❖ It legally ended segregation.
• ❖ It banned discrimination in voter registration tests.
• ❖ It banned segregation in public places, such as motels, restaurants and theatres.
• ❖ It set up an Equal Opportunities Commission to deal with job discrimination.

How was the Civil Right Act of 1964 successful?

It had 2 main successes:

• ❖ It banned segregation in public places.
• ❖ The federal government increased its role in ensuring people were accorded their civil rights.

How was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 limited?

There were 4 main limitations to the Civil Rights Act:

• ❖ It did not ban discrimination.
• ❖ Businesses and schools found ways around desegregation.
• ❖ The Equal Opportunities Commission only dealt with complaints, which were rarely made due to those affected being threatened if they did so.
• ❖ There was no federal enforcement of the law with regards to voter registration tests.

Who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Among opposition to the Civil Rights Act were these 3 key examples:

• ❖ The Southern Democrats, nicknamed the 'Dixiecrats' and some Republicans opposed the new act.
• ❖ Some public places tried to get around the law by becoming private businesses.
• ❖ There was increased violence towards civil rights activists who attempted to increase voter registration among African Americans.

What did the failures of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 lead to in the Civil Rights Movement?

The failures of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to the March from Selma to Montgomery in March 1965.