Final answer:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited segregation in public facilities, banned employment discrimination, and ended unequal voter registration requirements. It was supported and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and successfully passed through the House of Representatives, but it was the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that guaranteed the right to vote irrespective of race.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that addressed several major issues related to civil rights and discrimination in the United States. This Act, notably signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, had a range of provisions, including:
- Prohibiting segregation in public facilities and accommodations such as schools, workplaces, and places that served the general public.
- Ending unequal application of voter registration requirements, although it did not guarantee blacks the right to vote, which was specifically addressed in the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- Banning discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to help enforce this.
It is important to highlight that the Act received significant backing from President Johnson and successfully passed through the House of Representatives. It was one of the most far-reaching civil rights laws passed by Congress and laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 that further advanced civil rights.