On May 7, 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Though limited compared to later legislation, it was a key step in protecting voting rights for African Americans. It penalized anyone who obstructed voter registration and allowed federal inspection of local voter registration polls. It also established penalties for interfering with court-ordered school desegregation. Though Southern resistance remained fierce, the act was a signal that federal authorities were increasingly being pushed to intervene on civil rights issues, setting the stage for broader reforms during the 1960s.
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