The Civil Rights Act 1964

• Most famous of all Civil Rights Legislation

• Relies on the 14th, 15th Amendments as well as the Commerce Clause in Article I Section 8 of the US Constitution

• Areas covered in the Act 

  • Voting rights

  • Public accommodations

  • Desegregation of public facilities

  • Limits on discrimination within federally funded programs

  • Employment discrimination

  • Authorized higher court review of district court referrals to state courts

• Passed after more than a decade of action

  • Bus boycotts, business boycotts, lunch counter sit-ins, Freedom Rides, demonstrations, marches, legal battles

• Pressure had been put on President Kennedy

  • Nationally televised police violence in Birmingham Alabama – featured the use of cattle prods, fire hoses, clubs, and biting dogs.

  • 1963 – 1,000 demonstrations in 209 different cities

Kennedy and Civil Rights

• During first two years of Presidency, Kennedy proposed no civil rights legislation

• White House is tied up with foreign relations, defense and economic issues

• On June 11, 1963, Kennedy goes on television  to propose a comprehensive bill covering discrimination in public accommodations and employment, as well as strengthening voting rights enforcement mechanisms.

Violent Response Increases Pressure

• Medgar Evers is murdered outside his home the next evening. (June 12)

• March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom happens in August – further putting pressure on the federal government to act.

• September 15th, 1963 – Fire Bombing of a church in Birmingham kills four girls

  • The bill is still no sure thing to pass through congress