1957: Civil Rights Act 

        The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first law to seriously address African-American rights since the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The act established a Civil Rights Commission in the government, a civil rights division within the Justice Department, and allowed the U.S. Attorney General to ask federal courts to protect African American voting rights.

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        The Civil Rights Act of 1957’s main goal was to end the disenfranchisement of black voters, as many of the time were intimidated or coerced out of voting. The piece of legislation was also intended to demonstrate to the nation the government’s support for racial equality. The act was supported by groups such as the NAACP as well as the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.