What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 establish?

The Civil Rights Act of 1957 primarily aimed to address and protect the voting rights of African Americans. Among its key provisions, it established a framework for monitoring and enforcing these rights, creating the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to investigate discrimination and report on its findings. This commission was essential in promoting civil rights and raising awareness about issues related to voter suppression.

While the act did touch upon issues of voter registration and aimed to protect the right to vote, it did not create federal legislation to end racial segregation or directly regulate employment discrimination, which were addressed in later civil rights legislation. The 1957 Act was significant in establishing a national mechanism to address civil rights issues, making it a foundational step for the broader civil rights movement that followed.