Events - Event View

#OnThisDay, Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act (CRA) of 1957 into law. The act established the Civil Rights Section of the Justice Department and empowered federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote. #CivilRights #VotingRights

This was the 1st civil rights legislation since Reconstruction (1875).

Timeline:

-- 1866 Johnson vetos CRA of 1866, but veto is overridden by Congress (define citizenship and guaranteed citizens equal protection)

-- 1875 Grant signs CRA of 1875 (guaranteed African Americans equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation, and prohibited their exclusion from jury service)

-- 1883 SCOTUS rules 7-1 that CRA of 1875 is unconstitutional

-- 1957 Eisenhower signs CRA of 1957 (forms the Civil Rights Commission)

-- 1960 Eisenhower signs CRA of 1960 (guaranteed qualified voters the right to register to vote

-- 1964 Johnson signs CRA of 1964 (prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and employment)

-- 1968 Johnson signs CRA of 1968 (guaranteed equal housing opportunities)

-- 1991 Bush signs the CRA of 1991 (expanded the rights of women and disabled persons)

Resources:

--Civil Rights Digital Library: http://crdl.usg.edu/events/civil_rights_act_1957

--Eisenhower Library: https://www.dwightdeisenhower.com/383/Civil-Rights-Act-of-1957

--Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/civil-rights-act/civil-rights-era-timeline.html

Photo credit: Photographs of Official Activities of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953 - 1961, US National Archives .https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7865612 (@USNatArchives)