Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

Which federal act was passed shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

1. Civil Rights Act of 1974

2. Civil Rights Act of 1968

3. Civil Rights Act of 1980

4. Civil Rights Act of 1964

The correct answer is: Civil Rights Act of 1968

The Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, was enacted shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. This act was significant as it aimed to eliminate discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The timing of the act’s passage is particularly notable because it was a direct response to the civil unrest and demand for social justice that followed the assassination. Dr. King's legacy as a prominent leader in the civil rights movement highlighted the critical need for legislation that would protect African Americans and other marginalized populations from discrimination, particularly in housing. The other options listed pertain to different civil rights legislation that either preceded or followed the 1968 Act, but they were not directly associated with the immediate aftermath of Dr. King's assassination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, was a more comprehensive piece of legislation that addressed discrimination in various areas, including public accommodations and employment, but it was passed four years earlier. The acts from 1974 and 1980 were amendments or extensions of earlier legislation and did not align with the specific historical context related to Dr. King’s assassination.