Civil Rights Act 1964 Essay

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As an African American I have always been under the impression that the Civil Rights Act 1964 was the first of its kind, but from my readings it was not the first attempt at establishing equal rights for everyone the first of attempt Civil Rights Bill 1866 during the Civil War and years to come after toward but the first was introduced by a Senator from Illinois named Lyman Trumbull. Lyman Trumbull born October 12, 1813 in Colchester to his parents Benjamin Trumbull and Elizabeth Mather he had two brothers; Benjamin Trumbull Jr and George Trumbull. Connecticut is where he attended Bacon Academy and later moved to Georgia to become a schoolteacher. He taught school in George from 1829-1833, He studied law and was admitted to the bar and started …show more content…

Trumbull tried moving a little too fast when it came to his bills, not realizing that his world wasn’t ready for civil rights. He must establish the thought of human rights first before even trying to convince Confederates that Civil Rights are necessary. Mr. Trumbull was one of the Senators helping with the Confiscation Acts. The Confiscation Acts was several laws passed by the federal government. The first law passed was identical to a declaration of emancipation. The second was the Emancipation Proclamation. Slaves of civil and military confederate officials “shall be forever free” and it was only enforced in Union conquered areas or states. President Lincoln approved of Trumbull’s sponsorship of the Thirteenth Amendment that abolished slavery. Trumbull’s argument of emancipation was this, “The right to free the slaves of rebels would be equally clear with that to confiscate their property generally for it is as property that they profess to hold them; but as one of the most efficient means of attaining the end for which the armies of the Union have been called forth, the right to restore them the God-given liberty of which they have been unjustly deprived, is doubly clear.” (Note) Senator Lyman Trumbull and Senator William Fessenden being head of the Reconstruction Committee introduced the Freedman’s Bureau and President Johnson vetoed

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