HISET Social Studies Practice

Which of the following is a key principle of the Civil Rights Act of 1957?

1. It mandated integration of schools

2. It aimed to protect African Americans’ voting rights

3. It allowed for federal oversight of state laws

4. It focused solely on employment discrimination

The correct answer is: It aimed to protect African Americans’ voting rights

The correct answer emphasizes the primary objective of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which was to protect and safeguard the voting rights of African Americans. This was a crucial moment in the civil rights movement, as many African Americans faced significant barriers when trying to exercise their right to vote, particularly in southern states where discriminatory practices were widespread. The Act sought to address these injustices by establishing a federal presence in the voting process, enabling the federal government to intervene in instances of voter suppression. Notably, it created the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to investigate discriminatory voting practices, highlighting the federal commitment to ensuring fair access to the electoral process. The other options are related to civil rights but do not accurately reflect the primary focus of the 1957 Act. For instance, while integration of schools became a pivotal issue later, it was not mandated by this specific legislation. Similarly, federal oversight of state laws was more prominent in later civil rights laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Lastly, although employment discrimination was a significant concern in the civil rights arena, the 1957 Act was primarily centered on voting rights rather than employment issues.