1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law

July 2

The Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. The Civil Rights Act states it’s illegal to discriminate against people based on race, color, religion, or national origin.

It also prohibits segregation in public places and outlaws all racial segregation in schools and housing.

After Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this act into law, the number of African Americans elected to Congress increased from 3 to 16 in 1966.

This legislation improved the education, employment opportunities, and health of African Americans across America. The Civil Rights Act had impacts on the history of America and helped shaped the country.

In 1955, an African-American woman was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat in Alabama. It sparked a boycott ride that would change American history. A second moment came in 1963 when Martin Luther King delivered his famous speech at the “I Have a Dream” demonstration.

The issue surrounding Kennedy’s victory in 1960 was the adoption of a new civil rights statute.

On November 27, 1963, President Kennedy welcomed the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunities to begin its first meeting and the committee chair being Lyndon Johnson.

In 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated, and Vice President Johnson pledged to continue civil rights reform under his administration.

The Civil Rights Act became law despite fierce opposition. It was the first piece of legislation passed by the United States to improve civil rights.

The Civil Rights Act passed into law in 1964 was the first legislation that outlaws racial discrimination in education and employment.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act had a significant role in helping build the foundation for other pieces of legislation, such as the Equal Rights Amendment utilized to secure equal rights for women and all races.