Civil Rights Act Signed

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed one of the most important laws in American history. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate against people because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. For the first time, the federal government had a powerful tool to protect the rights of all Americans in their daily lives. The road to this law was long and hard. For nearly a century after slavery ended, many states — especially in the South — had passed Jim Crow laws that kept Black Americans separated from white Americans. Black people were forced to use different schools, restaurants, hotels, water fountains, and restrooms. They were often denied jobs or paid less than white workers doing the same work. President John F. Kennedy first proposed the civil rights bill in June 1963, inspired by the courage of activists who faced violence while fighting for equality. After Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, President Johnson made passing the bill a priority, honoring Kennedy's legacy. The bill faced fierce opposition in the Senate, where opponents talked for 60 days — the longest filibuster in American history — trying to block it. With the help of Senator Everett Dirksen, enough senators finally voted to end the filibuster and pass the law. The Civil Rights Act had 11 sections, called titles. Title II outlawed discrimination in public places like restaurants, theaters, and hotels. Title VII made it illegal for employers to discriminate in hiring, and it created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce workplace fairness. This landmark law changed America, opening doors that had been closed to millions of people for far too long.