Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Danielle Endler
Human Resources 4050, Spring 2013 Semester Professor David Penkrot May 3, 2013
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered by some to be one of the most important laws in American history. (The Most Important Cases, Speeches, Laws & Documents in American History) This Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964 and it is a “comprehensive federal statute aimed at reducing discrimination in public accommodations and employment situations.” (Feuerbach Twomey, 2010) Specifically, it aimed at prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), and religion.” (Civil Rights Act of 1964, 2010) Additionally, it also protects individuals who are associated with a member of one of the protected classes. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was ultimately created because the citizens of the United States expected the rights promised by the Fourteenth Amendment to be fulfilled and protected. (Teaching With Documents: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) By the time the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the Supreme Court had made decisions, some of which will be discussed later in this paper, that limited the reach of the Fourteenth Amendment. To reverse these limitations Congress used “its powers to regulate interstate commerce” and enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Civil Rights) The Civil Rights Act is comprised of eleven titles that cover various aspects of life in the United States. These titles cover everything from voting rights (Title I) to desegregation of public education (Title IV) to federal assistance (Title VI) to community relations service (Title X). Although each of these eleven titles is equally important and has changed the way that Americans live, Title VII and its effects on employment will be the focus of this paper.
Title VII of the Civil
Danielle Endler
Human Resources 4050, Spring 2013 Semester Professor David Penkrot May 3, 2013
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is considered by some to be one of the most important laws in American history. (The Most Important Cases, Speeches, Laws & Documents in American History) This Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964 and it is a “comprehensive federal statute aimed at reducing discrimination in public accommodations and employment situations.” (Feuerbach Twomey, 2010) Specifically, it aimed at prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), and religion.” (Civil Rights Act of 1964, 2010) Additionally, it also protects individuals who are associated with a member of one of the protected classes. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was ultimately created because the citizens of the United States expected the rights promised by the Fourteenth Amendment to be fulfilled and protected. (Teaching With Documents: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) By the time the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the Supreme Court had made decisions, some of which will be discussed later in this paper, that limited the reach of the Fourteenth Amendment. To reverse these limitations Congress used “its powers to regulate interstate commerce” and enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Civil Rights) The Civil Rights Act is comprised of eleven titles that cover various aspects of life in the United States. These titles cover everything from voting rights (Title I) to desegregation of public education (Title IV) to federal assistance (Title VI) to community relations service (Title X). Although each of these eleven titles is equally important and has changed the way that Americans live, Title VII and its effects on employment will be the focus of this paper.
Title VII of the Civil
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