The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Law and the Struggle Behind It
On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson sat at a table in the White House surrounded by civil rights leaders, members of Congress, and television cameras. With dozens of pens arranged before him, he signed his name to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This historic document became one of the most significant federal laws in American history. Yet the law did not begin in a quiet government office. It was the result of years of brave organizing, mass protests, and intense public debate across the United States.
To understand why the Civil Rights Act was necessary, one must look at life in America during the 1950s and early 1960s. In many parts of the country, particularly in the South, local laws and customs known as Jim Crow enforced strict racial segregation. Segregation meant that Black Americans were legally separated from White Americans in everyday life. Black citizens were forced to use separate waiting rooms at train stations, sit in the back of buses, and drink from different water fountains. Many private businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, and lunch counters, refused to serve Black patrons entirely. Furthermore, employers often openly refused to hire Black workers or paid them far less than White workers for the exact same job.
- segregation:
- The forced separation of different racial groups in daily life.
- patrons:
- Regular customers or visitors who use a business or service.
- integration:
- The act of bringing people of different races together as equals.
- filibuster:
- A tactic in the Senate where lawmakers speak for hours to delay or block a vote on a bill.
- bipartisan:
- Involving cooperation and agreement between two different political parties.
- intimidation:
- The act of frightening or threatening someone to force them to do or avoid doing something.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What was the main purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
- 2Why was federal legislation needed to change everyday life in the American South during the 1950s and 1960s?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Law and the Struggle Behind It” is a explanatory article reading passage about Civil Rights Act of 1964, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (601 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.