Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Essay

The passage of the Act was and remains a historic moment for the citizens of the United States. It marked a milestone achievement from the very many days’ struggles to extend the political and legal rights to the African American in terms of “the elementary rights to equal citizenship and equal treatment (Risen 93).” The segregation of African Americans was prevalent through the 1950-60s (95), and many black leaders such as Martin Luther King Junior, Roy Wilkins, and Ralph Bunche were in the forefront to fight for the rights of the African Americans (76). The major achievements of the civil rights movements were the two major civil laws that were passed by the Congress although these laws were guaranteed in the United States Constitution after

Kennedy proposed the initial civil right act (3), and he sympathized with the African American citizens who protested now and then fighting for discriminations that they went through. He knew that African Americans deserved equal treatment as they were fighting for and also knew that the racial discrimination was an embarrassment to the United States. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law on July 2, 1964 when it was signed by President Johnson (249-51). The Act contained 10 titles and it ushered in the elimination of Jim Crow segregation era restrictions and ensured that black and white Americans were permitted equal access to public transportation, schools, restrooms, parks, and restaurants (48,

During his time as the majority leader in the Senate President Johnson had applied filibuster tactic to pass a bill on civil rights. He advised Mike Mansfield to break the tactic and hold the Senate in length debates to exhaust the opponents; Mansfield, however, refused to follow the President’s advice (103). The filibuster continued for four weeks as the two opposing sides were debating the bill, the president complained about the length debates, and he called for all night debating sessions as a tactic to exhaust the opponents. To ensure the passage of the bill, the supporters of the bill in the Senate developed three successful strategies, the Mansfield strategy that made the bill to bypass judicial committee, the bipartisan team senators and staff