20.1.12

Civil & Voting Rights Acts

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The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act

The Civil Rights Act was introduced by President Kennedy and passed by President Johnson on 2nd July 1964. The Voting Rights Act was passed on 6th August 1965 by President Johnson.

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The Civil Rights Act, 1964

  • The Civil Rights Act was introduced by President Kennedy and passed by President Johnson on 2nd July 1964.
  • It introduced bans on:
    • Discriminatory voter registration tests designed to prevent black people from registering to vote.
    • Discrimination in public spaces and multi-state businesses.
    • Discrimination in employment.
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The Civil Rights Act cont.

  • The Civil Rights Act established the following:
    • An Equal Opportunities Commission to enforce employment equality.
    • Government ability to force desegregation in schools.
    • Government ability to remove funding from discriminating state projects.
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Loopholes

  • However, there was nothing to enforce these changes and businesses and schools found loopholes in order to continue discriminating against black people.
  • The Equal Opportunities Commission only dealt with complaints, which were rarely made due to threats, and didn’t have enough staff to investigate all claims.
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The Voting Rights Act 1965

  • Passed on 6th August by President Johnson.
  • The Voting Rights Act set up:
    • A single voter registration requirement that would be enforced by federal government. States could only set extra qualification rules with federal approval.
    • Federal officials to increase voter registration in states where over 50% of those eligible to vote were not registered.
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The Voting Rights Act cont.

  • By December 1965, nearly 80,000 new voters were registered, however the process was very slow and led to frustration that the government was still not doing enough.

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1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

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2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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