The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the most comprehensive civil rights legislation ever passed by Congress. It outlawed discrimination in employment, public accommodations, federally funded programs, and housing. It also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the law.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a major victory for the civil rights movement. It helped to end legal segregation and discrimination against African Americans and other minority groups. It also paved the way for further civil rights advances, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
The following people played a significant role in making the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into a law:
* President Lyndon B. Johnson: Johnson was a strong supporter of civil rights. He used his political skills to persuade Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
* Martin Luther King, Jr.: King was the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He organized peaceful protests and civil disobedience demonstrations to demand equal rights for African Americans.
* John F. Kennedy: Kennedy was the president of the United States from 1961 to 1963. He was assassinated before he could see the Civil Rights Act of 1964 become law, but he played a key role in getting the legislation passed.
* Robert F. Kennedy: Kennedy was the attorney general of the United States from 1961 to 1964. He used his position to prosecute individuals and organizations that violated civil rights laws.
* Thurgood Marshall: Marshall was the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court. He was also the chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and played a key role in drafting the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
* The Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement was a mass movement of ordinary people who fought for equal rights for African Americans. The movement used a variety of tactics, including peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and voter registration drives, to achieve its goals.