During the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal government outlawed discrimination based on race, color, sex, and religion. This Act is considered one of the landmark civil rights laws of the twentieth century.
Voting rights
Having passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the federal government could now intervene to help protect the right of citizens to vote. This legislation was a significant step in protecting minority groups from racial discrimination.
It was one of the most significant civil rights acts in the history of the U.S. Congress passed this bill, which included several amendments that provided direct federal intervention to help ensure political equality for all.
Before the passage of the VRA, local governments and jurisdictions in some states were using discriminatory practices to prevent the vote of voters of color. These practices included poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation. These practices disproportionately disenfranchised African Americans.
The VRA required the preclearance of any proposed voting changes by the federal government. To obtain preclearance, the state must prove that the proposed voting change will not violate the rights of the people it affects. If the state fails to provide this information, the Attorney General may file a restraining order in a district court to stop the vote restrictions.
Desegregation of schools
During the first half of the twentieth century, the NAACP was the leading civil rights organization fighting for the desegregation of public schools. As a result, several judicial decisions laid the groundwork for school integration.
In 1944, the NAACP published an article titled “The Crisis.” The report outlined some of the significant challenges facing the black community. The most incendiary of those challenges was busing. The report suggested that some districts would bus their students to schools outside the neighborhood to achieve a racial balance.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which passed in the wake of World War II, included federal measures to enforce the desegregation of public schools. It allowed the federal government to sue localities that refused to integrate. In addition, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare threatened southern localities with loss of federal funding if they continued to resist school integration.
After the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, other court rulings laid the groundwork for integrating public schools.
Employment discrimination
Among other things, the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, race, national origin, religion, or disability. It also authorizes the United States Attorney General to initiate suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities.
The Law also requires federal agencies to make reasonable accommodations for known disabilities. It also makes it illegal for an employer to give an unauthorized advantage to any person. Besides, it prohibits employers from giving people a higher wage than they deserve.
The United States Department of Justice can prosecute enforcement actions against state and local government employers. The agency can also request a finding of discrimination in a district court.
The Law also prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a complaint. This includes whistleblowers. The Law also requires the Federal Trade Commission to take action to eliminate unlawful employment practices.
The Law requires that an employer provide a reasonable amount of back pay for an employee. If the employer does not pay the back pay, the person who filed the complaint will be entitled to recover compensation.
Women’s rights
During the Civil Rights Movement, women played an important role. They spoke out for their rights and were critical strategists in the movement. They were also a significant factor in the legislation that was passed.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed to ban discrimination based on race, religion, and sex. The Act was signed into Law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The National Organization for Women was formed in October 1966. The organization was founded by frustrated women in the workplace who were experiencing sex discrimination. It was created to pressure the federal government to protect women from employment discrimination.
The National Organization for Women lobbied the federal government for equal pay and other rights for women. They tried to draft a bill of rights for women.
The United Nations has an international convention called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Convention defines obligations states must fulfill to ensure women’s rights. Currently, over 180 states have ratified the UN convention.
