Civil Rights Act of 1960

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86th United States Congress
Citation
Territorial extent
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Enacted by	86th United States Congress
Passed
Enacted
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Enacted by

The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was a significant piece of legislation in the United States that aimed to address and enforce voting rights for African Americans. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 6, 1960, and served as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Background

The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was enacted in response to the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the need to address racial discrimination, particularly in the Southern United States. Despite the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, many African Americans continued to face significant barriers when attempting to exercise their right to vote. These barriers included literacy tests, poll taxes, and other discriminatory practices.

Provisions

The Act included several key provisions designed to strengthen voting rights and address civil rights violations:

• Voting Referees: The Act authorized the appointment of federal voting referees to help ensure that qualified individuals were not denied the right to vote due to discriminatory practices.

• Record Keeping: It required local election officials to maintain and preserve voting records for a period of 22 months, allowing for federal inspection and investigation of voting rights violations.

• Penalties for Obstruction: The Act imposed penalties for anyone who obstructed a person's attempt to register to vote or cast a ballot.

• Judicial Review: It provided for judicial review of voting rights cases, allowing individuals to seek redress in federal courts.

Impact

While the Civil Rights Act of 1960 was an important step forward, it was not sufficient to fully address the systemic issues of racial discrimination in voting. The Act's enforcement mechanisms were limited, and many discriminatory practices continued to persist. However, it laid the groundwork for more comprehensive legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided stronger protections and enforcement measures.

Legacy

The Civil Rights Act of 1960 is remembered as part of the broader civil rights movement that sought to dismantle segregation and ensure equal rights for all Americans. It highlighted the federal government's role in protecting civil rights and set the stage for future legislative efforts to combat racial discrimination.

See also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Jim Crow laws

References

• "Civil Rights Act of 1960." Public Law 86-449, 74 Stat. 86. United States Government Publishing Office.
• Lawson, Steven F. Running for Freedom: Civil Rights and Black Politics in America since 1941.

External links

• Full text of the Civil Rights Act of 1960