Civil Rights Acts – Timeline of Key Laws & Amendments

This page traces the history of the Civil Rights Acts, from Reconstruction through the modern era. Each law expanded (or attempted to expand) protections for equality under the Constitution.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

• First U.S. civil rights law, passed after the Civil War.
• Guaranteed citizenship and equal rights regardless of race.
• Codified in 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (contracts and property rights).

Civil Rights Act of 1871 (Ku Klux Klan Act)

• Targeted racial violence and intimidation in the South.
• Created civil remedies against those acting “under color of law” to deprive rights.
• Still forms the basis of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights lawsuits.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Landmark modern civil rights law.
• Prohibited discrimination in employment (Title VII), public accommodations (Title II), and federally funded programs (Title VI).
• Created the EEOC to enforce anti-discrimination law.

Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act)

• Prohibited housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
• Later amended to include sex (1974), disability (1988), and family status (1988).

Civil Rights Act of 1991

• Strengthened employee rights under Title VII.
• Allowed jury trials and compensatory/punitive damages for intentional discrimination.
• Clarified burden of proof standards in employment discrimination cases.

Why It Matters Today

The Civil Rights Acts collectively:

Equal Pay Act of 1963

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (29 U.S.C. § 206(d))

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to address wage disparities between men and women by making it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages for substantially equal work.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) established minimum wage and overtime protections but did not address gender-based wage discrimination. This Act amended the FLSA.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 2000a et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to end segregation in public places and ban employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was a response to the Civil Rights Movement and entrenched systemic discrimination.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
While the 14th Amendment and earlier Civil Rights Acts (1866, 1875) provided some protections, enforcement was weak and inconsistent. The 1964 Act gave federal government direct authority to enforce civil rights.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) (1967)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The ADEA was enacted to protect workers aged 40 and older from employment discrimination, addressing widespread workplace bias against older employees.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin—but not age. The ADEA filled this gap in employment protections.

Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 2000e(k))

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to clarify that discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions constitutes unlawful sex discrimination.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before the Act, courts often held that pregnancy discrimination was not covered by Title VII. This law explicitly extended protections to ensure women were not forced out of jobs due to pregnancy.

Civil Rights Act of 1991

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 102–166)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to strengthen and expand federal civil rights laws, particularly in response to Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed protections against employment discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 established foundational protections. However, Supreme Court rulings in the 1980s (e.g., Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio, 1989) limited plaintiffs’ ability to prove discrimination, prompting congressional action.