The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted in 1964 and marked a major progression of civil rights and labor laws in the United States. It outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin and prohibited unequal application of voter registration, racial segregation in schools, and employment discrimination. Initially, the act held little ground but was quickly supplemented during later years.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 massively improved equality on a national scale. However, the bill divided American politics and risked losing Southern support to the Democratic Party. In addition, white business owners disputed the bill and claimed that Congress did not have constitutional authority to ban segregation.