The Civil Rights Act 1964 the Voting Rights Act 1965

Introduction

Minority communities in the U.S. have historically struggled with racial segregation and discrimination over the years. The segregation meant that minority groups, including Black Americans, would not access key services or share facilities with their white counterparts. Some areas of concern where segregation was pertinent include voting, housing, education, and access to education. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Louisiana state law’s separate but equal accommodations for whites and colored minorities essentially legalized segregation.

Impact of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) on Minority Groups

Supreme Court’s ruling on Plessy v. Ferguson essentially legalized racial discrimination through the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine. The ruling was the foundation of racial discrimination, especially against Black Americans throughout the 20^th Century (Araújo & Meireis). Theoretically, the doctrine implied that no state government or federal government agencies should deny any race access to services and that everyone should have equal rights. However, in practice, minority groups, especially African Americans, received barbaric services. Even though the ruling was later overruled, its impacts are still visible across American institutions to date, with Black Americans and other minorities still segregated.

The ‘separate but equal’ doctrine ruling led to the institutionalization of racism, blocking Black Americans and other minorities from accessing vital services and economic opportunities. For instance, the federal government facilitated the construction of suburban homes through the Veteran Administration and the Federal Housing Authority-insured mortgages. However, lending institutions were instructed to include racially restrictive covenants for insured properties. This was designed to prevent minority groups from owning homes in suburban areas. Also, racial segregation manifested itself even in government-funded construction projects. For instance, when the federal government was constructing interstate railway lines, freeways were mostly constructed in black-dominated neighborhoods, leading to the mass displacement of many of the African Americans.

Social Forces that Opposed Legal Segregation

The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is one of the organizations that emerged to fight legalized segregation of minority groups. Under the leadership of Roy Wilkins, the organization fought for colored communities to access opportunities (Sullivan, 2009). This institution used legal strategies to advance the rights of minority communities. The association was behind the landmark Brown vs. the Board of Education Supreme Court case that formally, if not practically, ended racial segregation in educational settings (Sullivan, 2009). Following the Supreme Court ruling, Black students would access schools previously preserved for white students.

Moreover, civil disobedience and boycotts made a significant impact in ending racial segregation in the U.S. Rosa Parks, a Black woman, triggered civil disobedience when she resisted an order to let a white passenger take her seat on a train. Her resistance gave the civil movement a lot of momentum beyond expectations. Local civic leaders were waiting for an opportunity to test the state’s segregation laws, and Rosa Parks presented a perfect opportunity. Her action led to people boycotting buses and eventually forming the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) (Corbett et al., 2023). A local pastor, Martin Luther King Jr, was appointed to lead MIA, which immediately embarked on legal steps to end segregation. The boycott was so successful that the Supreme Court banned racially segregated buses in 1956 (Corbett et al., 2023). Martin Luther King would subsequently become the figurehead of Black resistance in the U.S.

Contrasting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the Voting Rights Act (1965) and Fair Housing Act (1968)

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation ever enacted by Congress. The act contained legislation meant to combat segregation and end racial discrimination in all spheres of life. In particular, the act sought to end segregation and discrimination in public facilities, education, jobs, and housing (Hayter, 2018). The act led to the formation of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, which advocated for equal employment opportunities for all races. Also, the federal Community Relationship Service was formed to assist communities facing multifaceted civil rights issues. Additionally, the U.S. Education Office was directed to offer financial aid to schools in Black neighborhoods to desegregate them.

On the other hand, the Voting Rights Act was meant to end laws that excluded minorities in the South from voting. The act effectively banned poll taxes and other conditions designed to limit minority groups’ voting rights (Corbett et al., 2023). The act contributed to ending segregation rhetoric and the inclusion of Blacks in key government positions. According to Yinger (1999), the Fair Housing Act banned segregation in housing, including mortgage financing, renting, and sale. The act focused on more than race as it sought to ensure fairness regardless of sex, religion, and disability. It also introduced government-funded housing projects for the most vulnerable members of society.

Impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on Minority Groups

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in service provision across many sectors in the U.S. In particular, accommodation in public facilities was enhanced as a result of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 enactment (Corbett et al., 2023). Minority groups would freely interact with their white counterparts, and any establishment that would entrench segregation was subject to legal liability. Also, the act reinforced the Supreme Court’s precedent in Brown vs. the Education Board. Another vital impact is that minority communities would subsequently have equal access to employment opportunities. Additionally, the act set the pace for further protection, including the reinforcement of voting rights and access to housing among minority groups.

Significant Diversity and Inclusion Milestones

Notable milestones have been achieved throughout the U.S.’s civil rights journey. Opening voting rights to African voters was a significant step as they would now actively participate in democratic processes. The Fair Housing Act also gave Black Americans the equal opportunity to access mortgages and participate in the real estate sector. Another key milestone resulted from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which effectively ensured that disabled Americans would access employment opportunities fairly. The Black Lives Matter movement, founded in 2013, has also contributed to ending police brutality against black people and other minority groups.

Conclusion

In summary, the Supreme Court’s decision on Louisiana state law’s equal but separate doctrine led to the legalization of racial segregation. As a result of the ruling, minority groups would no longer access fair housing, education, and usage of public facilities. In the aftermath of the ruling, social forces would arise to combat segregation. Rosa Parks’s defiance triggered civil disobedience that would culminate in a ban on racial segregation in public transport. The boycott led to the formation of MIA, an association designed to supervise boycotts. Martin Luther King, who later became key to the racial segregation fight, headed MIA. NAACP also played a key role in ending segregation in the education sector. The subsequent enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Fair Housing Act of 1968 significantly contributed to ending racial segregation and discrimination in the U.S.

References

Araújo, M. A., & Meireis, A. A Century After Plessy V. Ferguson. The Struggle For Racial Equality In The Algorithm Era. http://hdl.handle.net/11067/6604

Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Vickery, P., & Waskiewicz, S. (2023, July 6). U.S. History. OpenStax, OER Commons. https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history

Hayter, J. M. (2018). To end divisions: Reflections on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In Reconstruction and the Arc of Racial (in) Justice (pp. 130-142). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Sullivan, P. (2009). Lift every voice: The NAACP and the making of the civil rights movement. New Press, The.

Yinger, J. (1999). Sustaining the Fair Housing Act. Cityscape, 4(3), 93–106. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20868477

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[Please delete all instructions once you have completed this case study. Length: 4-5 double-spaced pages. Use a minimum of one (1) documented example from your US History OpenStax course text and four (4) scholarly sources from the Chamberlain Library. Remember, sources for this case study are found under the Leganto Source List for a total of five (5) sources. Add in-text citations and end references, and double-space the writing once completed. The course text has already been added to the references, but please add your additional scholarly source to the list.]

Introduction

Briefly describe how Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) impacted civil rights and liberties among minority groups in the United States. 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.

Conclusion

References

[at least one other authoritative source in alphabetical order in the list and double-check APA document formatting]

Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Vickery, P., & Waskiewicz, S. (2023, July 6). U.S. History. OpenStax, OER Commons. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history