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American History, Case Study, Pages: 4

The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

The American Civil Rights Movement was a big step in the pursuit of racial equality and social justice, which reversed decades of systemic racism. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 guaranteed equality for underprivileged populations and ended discrimination. The acts made significant strides against public discrimination, voting suppression, and housing inequity that other minority populations faced: The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968).

Through this essay, the importance of the Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) case on civil liberties and the social movements culminating in an end to segregation will be analyzed, as well as the roles played by the most instrumental figures. It also analyzes what the landmark laws intended to do, the effect the laws have had on the lives of minority populations and the progress made in familiarizing America with greater diversification and integration.

The Case of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Plessy v Ferguson (1896), which perpetuated the “separate but equal” doctrine and provided justifications for segregation, significantly influenced the civil rights and liberties of Americans, especially minority people (Corbett et al., 2014). First, the Jim Crow laws were given a legitimate basis by this, creating systemic bias in public facilities, schools and public transit. Second, it legitimized racial hierarchies, and the disenfranchisement and removal of African Americans became the norm.

Third, it paved the way for the instillation of rampant economic and educational inequity by restricting access to quality employment and quality education to minorities. Finally, it unleashed a flood of racial aggression and socio-economic imbalance in which segregationist norms justified discriminatory practices and semi-official racial aggression across America.

Following the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, the social fabric in the United States remained polarized and highly unequal, and most tensions existed in the South. African Americans and other disenfranchised citizens faced institutionally embedded bias in all arenas, from the employment market and housing to education and voting. Segregation in law and custom dominated, leading to a polarized society in which white Americans gained greater opportunities, wealth, and protection under the law. The resistance to the injustices accumulated through grassroots movements, leading to the Civil Rights Movement, whose objectives included ending segregation and racial equality.

Social Forces Who Rose to Combat Fighting Legal Segregation

In opposition to segregation under the law, other social forces, through other strategies, resisted racial discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement, African American-led, used grassroots organizing, lawsuits, and peaceful demonstrations. Organizations like the NAACP focused on lawsuits to combat segregation, while others like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) utilized peaceful protests, boycotts, and sit-ins.

A more militant movement, the Black Panther Party, used a militant strategy, focusing on economic empowerment and defence (García-Magariño & Yates, 2025). White allies, students and clergy joined the movement, conducting freedom rides and voter registration drives. All these forces, in turn, pressured the federal government to legislate civil rights, ultimately ending segregation under the law.

Key leaders in the movement comprised Martin Luther King Jr. who encouraged peaceful resistance and civil disobedience as a way of bringing about racial equality. Malcolm X, the leader of the Nation of Islam, initially advocated for Black nationalism and the use of force in defence, later embracing a broader position on the issue of racial justice (Donaldson Jr,2025). The lawyer in the NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, prevailed in the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and overturned the case of Plessy v. Ferguson (Corbett et al.,2014).

Other figures, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, struggled to gain voting rights. The Freedom Rides were conducted by organizations such as the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to protest segregation in interstate travel. All the leaders and movements added to the overall effort to achieve civil rights through political, social, and legal means.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Voting Rights Act (1965) and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

Ending discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public settings, the workplace, and federally financed programs was the main goal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It ended segregation in public places, the workplace, and public facilities, and in the process, established a landmark law in ending the Jim Crow laws. The 1965 Voting Rights Act, in comparison, sought to end voting-based racial discrimination by ending literacy tests, the poll tax, and other barriers employed to disenfranchise African Americans, most prevalent in the South (Corbett et al.,2014).

It also authorized the federal government to oversee voting in voting-suppression states. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 put an end to racial housing-based discrimination by making the refusal to rent, lease, and provide other housing opportunities based on color, religion, and national origin unlawful. All the acts sought to put an end to systemic racism. Still, the Civil Rights Act sought to end general discrimination, the Voting Rights Act ensured ballot access, and the Fair Housing Act fought racial residential segregation.

How the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Impacted the Populations

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 greatly benefited minority populations by legislatively dismantling segregation and public and employment-based discrimination. It established mechanisms for federal enforcement to provide equality in the use of public facilities, such as restaurants, theatres, and educational institutions, to eliminate the systemic racial barriers established under the laws of Jim Crow. In the workforce, the employment prohibition under Title VII created opportunities for minorities and women in many industries.

The voting rights protection under the Act also helped to establish the foundation for the eventual passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 (Snead, 2024). Through the years, the protection under the law helped to alter society’s attitudes to support racial and gender equality, promoting diversity and public life integration. Despite the challenges, the Civil Rights Act established the foundation for future laws to support equality and representation in historically marginalized populations.

Significant Progress Accomplished to Achieve Civil Rights

Important turning points in the civil rights struggle have diversified and included America by making the law and opportunities accessible to marginalized populations. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished segregation and job bias, a milestone in racial equality. The 1965 Voting Rights Act put an end to voting barriers, empowering African Americans and other minorities politically. The Fair Housing Act in 1968 fought housing bias and integrated society.

Subsequent developments, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, ensured the protection of people with disabilities, and Title IX (1972) ensured equality in education and athletics based on gender. The 2015 same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges) represented a landmark in the rights of the LGBTQ+ community (Drabble et al., 2021). All the legislative and judicial victories combined rendered the United States society in greater harmony, as well as the protection and celebration of diversity in all aspects of society.

Conclusion

The fight to attain civil rights in the United States has long and strenuously involved battles in the courts, the streets, and through landmark bills. The 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 all served to remove systemic bias and promote the rights of minority populations. The laws marked great progress, and the effort to attain equality continues because voting, economic opportunities, and social justice issues remain.

The Civil Rights Movement’s legacy reminds the public about the influence and impact of advocacy and law-making in building a just society. Ultimately, the advances in civil rights laid the foundation for building an America based on diversity, equality, and opportunities for all.

References

Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Waskiewicz, S., & Vickery, P. (2014). U.S. History. OpenStax.

Donaldson Jr, A. M., & Cates, M. W. (Eds.). (2025). Futures of Black Power: Reimagining the Black Past. University Press of Florida.

Drabble, L. A., Wootton, A. R., Veldhuis, C. B., Riggle, E. D. B., Rostosky, S. S., Lannutti, P. J., Balsam, K. F., & Hughes, T. L. (2021). Perceived psychosocial impacts of legalized same-sex marriage: A scoping review of sexual minority adults’ experiences. PLOS ONE, 16(5), e0249125. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249125

García-Magariño, S., & Yates, A. (2025). Violence, Politics and Religion: A Case Study of the Black Panther Party. Religions, 16(1), 38–38. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16010038

Snead, W. (2024). The Supreme Court and the Allocation of Burden: Truncating the Voting Rights Act. Law & Social Inquiry, 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1017/lsi.2023.80

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Required Resources:
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

  • Briefly describe how Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) impacted civil rights and liberties in the United States among minority groups. What did the social fabricate look like?
  • Contrast the social forces that rose in opposition to combat legal segregation. Who were some of the main leaders, and what did they advocate?
  • Differentiate the main arguments of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 from the Voting Rights Act (1965) and Fair Housing Act (1968).
  • Analyze how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 affected and improved conditions for minority groups within American society.
  • Assess significant milestones achieved to span Civil Rights to make America inclusive and uphold diversity.

    The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

    The Civil Rights Act (1964), the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968)

Writing Requirements

  • Double spaced
  • 12-point Times New Roman font
  • Title page
  • References page
  • In-text citations that correspond with your end reference