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Civil Rights

Law and History
The Declaration of Independence, issued on July 4, 1776, stated "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal..." Yet the new nation declaring its independence permitted the continuation of the practice of slavery for people of African heritage - a practice that continued until the Civil War in the 1860s. At the conclusion of the Civil War, much remained to be done to ensure the rights and privileges of citizenship to all Americans. As America became a more diverse nation, welcoming immigrants from around the globe, problems of racial discrimination endured for many minority group members. Women and persons with disabilities also fought for and obtained laws that provided for fairness and equality.

The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing the civil rights laws passed by the Congress. These pages describe the federal civil rights laws and give examples from history that led to their passage.

This page last updated on January 9, 2002

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