Ratified in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection to all persons under the law. In the 1960s, African Americans still faced discrimination based on the color of their skin. After reports of 600 peaceful African Americans being attacked and beaten after attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, President Lynden Johnson decided it was time to create legislation to prevent such incidents from happening. reproduce in the future. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have been hailed as among “the most ambitious civil rights bills of modern times” (Schmidt et. al. 2010, 98). At that time in history, it was exactly what the country needed to put an end to the discriminatory practices that were so widespread. Both have evolved over time, being modified and continually renewed by Congress. In recent years, particularly since the election of Barack Obama, the necessity of retaining the provisions included in the Voting Rights Act has been called into question. The effects of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act have been obvious, such as the drastic increase in the number of minority voters and elected officials, but they also have limits, such as surveillance districts that are attached to historically segregated communities, making one Two events in the 1960s were the main reasons why President Kennedy's team developed and sent to Congress a bill on rights civil: the Birmingham campaign and George Wallace's refusal to desegregate the University of Alabama. The Birmingham campaign consisted of sit-ins... middle of paper... congress is not overturning section 5, they should take a quick look at the progressive country we have become since the 1960s and take the power. attitudes into consideration. The most effective civil rights legislation in history should continue to do what it was intended to do, continue to move our country forward. Works Cited Blum, Edward. The unintended consequences of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Washington, DC: Aei Pr, 2007. Print. Kenworthy, E.W. "Civil Rights Bill Passed 73-27; Johnson Urges All to Comply; Dirksen Reprimands Goldwater." New York Times June 19, 1964, Print. Liptak, Adam. “On voting rights, the test of history against progress.” New York Times April 27, 2009, Print. Schmidt, Steffen, Mack Shelley, II II and Barbara Bardes. American government and politics today, 2010-2011. Mason, OH: Wadsworth Pub Co, 2010. 91-113. Print.