Civil Rights Act of 1964

Definition

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public.

Related terms

Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States until they were abolished by the Civil Rights Act.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: This act aimed to overcome legal barriers at state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment.

Brown v Board Of Education (1954): A Supreme Court case where segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional, paving way for greater social equality.