What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 secure?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that aimed to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It addressed various forms of inequality and aimed to secure civil rights for all individuals, particularly in the context of the ongoing struggle against racial segregation and discrimination.

While option C highlights a pivotal element of the Act regarding the recognition and protection of the rights of African Americans, it is important to note that the Act's implications extended far beyond just this group. It enforced the desegregation of public places and schools and made employment discrimination based on the aforementioned categories illegal, thereby promoting equal opportunity.

Other choices focus on specific aspects of civil rights that, while significant, do not fully encompass the broader achievements of the Civil Rights Act. The Act did not explicitly grant citizenship, as citizenship had already been established for African Americans through earlier legislation and constitutional amendments. It also did not create employment quotas, which were established later to address affirmative action issues. Voting rights, while crucial, were more directly addressed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which came after the Civil Rights Act. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 thus stands out for its comprehensive approach to combating inequality and discrimination in