Discuss the significance of the Civil Rights Movement on affirmative action policies.

The Civil Rights Movement significantly influenced the development and implementation of affirmative action policies in the United States.

The Civil Rights Movement, which took place predominantly in the 1950s and 1960s, was a pivotal period in American history that sought to end racial discrimination and secure legal recognition and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the Constitution and federal law. This movement was instrumental in shaping affirmative action policies, which are measures designed to increase the representation of minorities and women in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark piece of legislation that emerged from the movement, prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. Title VII of the Act specifically targeted employment discrimination, and it was this provision that laid the groundwork for affirmative action. The Act made it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin, and it also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce these provisions.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11246, which required government contractors to "take affirmative action" to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, colour, or national origin. This was the first time the phrase "affirmative action" was officially used in this context, and it marked a significant shift in government policy towards active promotion of equality, rather than mere prohibition of discrimination.

The Civil Rights Movement also influenced the expansion of affirmative action policies beyond race. The feminist movement, which gained momentum during the same period, pushed for the inclusion of sex as a protected category under affirmative action policies. This led to the amendment of Executive Order 11246 in 1967 to include sex, ensuring that affirmative action policies also addressed gender discrimination.

In the years following the Civil Rights Movement, affirmative action has remained a controversial issue. Supporters argue that it is a necessary tool to redress the systemic discrimination that minorities and women have faced, and to promote diversity in institutions that have been historically dominated by white men. Critics, however, argue that it amounts to reverse discrimination, and that it undermines the principle of meritocracy.

In conclusion, the Civil Rights Movement played a crucial role in the development and implementation of affirmative action policies. It not only led to the legal prohibition of discrimination but also paved the way for