The Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was one of the most important laws in U.S. history. It made it illegal to discriminate against people based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It banned segregation in public places like restaurants, hotels, and theaters, and it protected workers from being treated unfairly because of who they were.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Even after 1964, many Black Americans, especially in the South, were blocked from voting through unfair tests, taxes, and threats. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed these tricks and gave the federal government the power to step in and protect voters. As a result, millions of African Americans were finally able to register and vote.

Together, these two laws turned the goals of the Civil Rights Movement into the law of the land.