The Civil Rights Act refers to several landmark pieces of legislation in the United States aimed at ending racial [[segregation]], [[discrimination]], and ensuring equal rights for all citizens, particularly African Americans. The most well-known and influential of these acts are the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. 1. **Civil Rights Act of 1964**: This groundbreaking legislation, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, was a major milestone in the American Civil Rights Movement. The Act consists of 11 titles, and its primary provisions include: - **Title II**: Outlawing segregation and discrimination in public accommodations, such as hotels, restaurants, theaters, and other places of public gathering. - **Title III**: Prohibiting segregation in public facilities, like schools and government buildings. - **Title IV**: Addressing desegregation of public schools and providing assistance to facilitate the process. - **Title VI**: Prohibiting the allocation of federal funds to programs or activities that discriminate based on race, color, or national origin. - **Title VII**: Prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce these provisions. 2. **Civil Rights Act of 1968**: Also known as the Fair Housing Act, this legislation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on April 11, 1968, expanded upon earlier civil rights laws by addressing housing discrimination. Its main provisions include: - Prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. - Offering protection for civil rights workers and those participating in the civil rights movement from violence and intimidation. These Acts played a crucial role in dismantling [[segregation]] and institutionalized [[discrimination]] in the United States, paving the way for greater social and political equality for all citizens. However, it is important to note that while the Acts provided the legal foundation for [[civil rights]], the struggle for full equality and the end of racial disparities continues in various aspects of American society.