The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became a landmark in U.S. law and the civil rights movement. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, it addressed discrimination in public accommodations, employment, education and federally funded programs.

The road to the Civil Rights Act

The law emerged after decades of organizing, litigation and political conflict over racial segregation and unequal treatment. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy called for major civil rights legislation. After Kennedy’s assassination, President Johnson made passage of the bill a central legislative priority.

The battle in Congress

The legislation faced prolonged resistance, including a lengthy Senate filibuster. The Senate eventually invoked cloture and approved the bill, which then cleared the House before Johnson signed it into law.

What the law changed

The National Archives describes the Act as prohibiting discrimination in public places, providing for integration of schools and other public facilities, and making employment discrimination illegal. Title VII created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The legacy of the 1964 Act

The Civil Rights Act did not end discrimination or the civil rights struggle, but it changed the federal legal framework. It was followed by additional legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and remains central to debates over equal protection and workplace discrimination.

Read more from Muslance

• Henry Kissinger: 10 Facts About His Life, Power and Controversial Legacy
• World War II Explained: A Short History of WWII

Watch more documentaries on Muslance on YouTube.