The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub.L. 88–352, 78 Stat. 241, enacted July 2, 1964) is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public (known as "public accommodations").
Powers given to enforce the act were initially weak, but were supplemented during later years. Congress asserted its authority to legislate under several different parts of the United States Constitution, principally its power to regulate interstate commerce under Article One (section 8), its duty to guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment and its duty to protect voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment. The Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, at the White House.
What does this mean for students, teachers and education? Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 equal opportunity education was encouraged for black and white children to attend the same schools and receive the same education. It also allowed for black and white men and women to teach in the same schools. Below is an excerpt from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the basis of education and discrimination. "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Powers given to enforce the act were initially weak, but were supplemented during later years. Congress asserted its authority to legislate under several different parts of the United States Constitution, principally its power to regulate interstate commerce under Article One (section 8), its duty to guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment and its duty to protect voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment. The Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, at the White House.
What does this mean for students, teachers and education?
Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 equal opportunity education was encouraged for black and white children to attend the same schools and receive the same education. It also allowed for black and white men and women to teach in the same schools. Below is an excerpt from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the basis of education and discrimination.
"No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Suggested Additional Readings:
http://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilrights/1964-civil-rights-act.htm
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=97
http://library.clerk.house.gov/reference-files/PPL_CivilRightsAct_1964.pdf
References:
Education and Title VI. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/hq43e4.html
The Civil Rights Act of 1964-Title IV: Equal Education for All. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2014/02/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964-title-iv-equal-education-for-all/?loclr=blogtea
CFA Reviews Designs for 2014 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Silver Dollar. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from http://news.coinupdate.com/cfa-reviews-designs-for-civil-rights-act-commerative-silver-dollar-2093/
(n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_of_1964