Final answer:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 banned housing discrimination, including practices such as blockbusting, steering, and redlining. This act made it illegal to discriminate in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which is also referred to as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, specifically outlawed housing discrimination practices such as blockbusting, steering, and redlining. These practices were used to maintain racial segregation in housing by exploiting racial prejudices and denying minorities the opportunity to purchase homes in certain neighborhoods. The act was a response to the widespread and systematic discrimination that had been prevalent in the United States, particularly after World War II. The damage caused by redlining was already evident in the 1970s, with inner cities across the country suffering from the effects of this discriminatory practice. Although these actions are now illegal, evidence suggests that forms of discrimination in housing still occur. The act attempted to curtail such practices by making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in the sale, rental, or financing of housing.