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The '''Civil Rights Act of 1964''' was a landmark in legislative attempts to improve the quality of life for [[African Americans]] and other minority groups. Although [[civil rights]] had a long history as a political and legislative issue, the 1960s marked a period of intense activity by the federal government to protect minority rights. The Act did not resolve all problems of discrimination. But it opened the door to further progress by lessening racial restrictions on the use of public facilities, providing more job opportunities, strengthening voting laws, and limiting federal funding of discriminatory aid programs.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress based on the [[Commerce Clause]], not the [[14th Amendment]], in order to apply to private (non-state) actors such as small restaurants.

The '''Civil Rights Act of 1964''' was a landmark in legislative attempts to improve the quality of life for [[African Americans]] and other minority groups. Although [[civil rights]] had a long history as a political and legislative issue, the 1960s marked a period of intense activity by the federal government to protect minority rights. The Act did not resolve all problems of discrimination. But it opened the door to further progress by lessening racial restrictions on the use of public facilities, providing more job opportunities, strengthening voting laws, and limiting federal funding of discriminatory aid programs.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress based on the [[Commerce Clause]], not the [[14th Amendment]], in order to apply to private (non-state) actors such as small restaurants.

The story of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is interesting and instructive because it illustrates how an historically important piece of legislation became part of our nation's heritage. An examination of the Act also provides a way to understand the climate of opinion regarding African American rights, the nature of civil rights activity, the obstacles to political and social change, the role of politics in the way issues are handled, the actions of individual senators and representatives, and the nature of legislative activity in general. The intricate process that makes a bill become law is a combination of all these factors.

The story of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is interesting and instructive because it illustrates how an historically important piece of legislation became part of our nation's heritage. [[Democrats]] attempted to block the passage of the Act by filibustering for 75 hours, including a 14 hour and 13 minute address by Senator [[Robert Byrd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Civil_Rights_Filibuster_Ended.htm|title=Civil Rights Filibuster Ended |work=Art & History Historical Minutes|publisher=United States Senate|accessdate=March 1, 2010}}</ref> An examination of the Act also provides a way to understand the climate of opinion regarding African American rights, the nature of civil rights activity, the obstacles to political and social change, the role of politics in the way issues are handled, the actions of individual senators and representatives, and the nature of legislative activity in general. The intricate process that makes a bill become law is a combination of all these factors.

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