1957 Civil rights act

• Bill introduced


  • 1956 - the civil rights act was originally presented to congress
  • Dixiecrats filibustered to prevent it from being passed
• Civil rights act


  • 1957- A revised version of the proposed 1956 bill was passed
  • First time in 82 years congress helped African Americans
  • Federal courts could now prosecute states
  • set the foundation towards civil rights
• Effects of the civil rights act 


  • Civil rights movement legally backed- activists became more determined
  • publicity
  • increased African American voting by 3%
  • Congress passed another civil rights act in 1966