Civil Rights Legislation

Mostly…

Executive Order 9981 (1948) Not legislation, but order by the

President Truman Military desegregated

Civil Rights Act of 1957 During the Eisenhower

administration Goal was to increase African

American voting in the South Gave federal courts power to register African American voters

It was too complicated and was ineffective, but set the precedent for later legislation

Great Society (1963) Johnson proposes

federal legislation to improve quality of life for all Americans

It addressed many aspects of life and called for a “War on Poverty”

It ultimately failed due to the cost of the program and funding the Vietnam War

Equal Pay Act (1963)

Required companies to pay women the same wages as men for the same work

24th Amendment (1964) Prohibited any poll tax in

elections for federal officials

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibited discrimination based on color,

race, ethnic origin: In hotels In restaurants At places of employment doing biz w/ the fed

gov’t or interstate commerce

Show Birmingham Protest Vid

Simply put – it ended segregation

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Increased federal power over voting Led to increase in number of African

American voters Ended poll taxes Suspended literacy tests

Show Bloody Sunday Vid

Affirmative Action Executive Order(1965)

Signed by President Johnson Required federal contractors to increase their

minority employees by actively recruiting them It has been mostly phased out Very controversial

Title IX (1972) Banned sex discrimination in schools Guaranteed girls the same

opportunities as boys Helped women earn higher degrees,

compete in sports, and get education jobs