AUL LibGuides: Freedom to Serve: The Legacy of Executive Order 9981: Government Resources

Government Acts

1941 | Executive Order 8802: Prohibition of Discrimination in the Defense Industry
In June of 1941, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, banning discriminatory employment practices by federal agencies and all unions and companies engaged in war-related work. The order also established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to enforce the new policy.
1948 | Executive Order 9980: Desegregation of Federal Workforce
On July 26, 1948, President Truman issued Executive Orders 9980, ordering the desegregation of the federal workforce.
1948 | Executive Order 9981: Desegregation of the Armed Forces
On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed this executive order banning segregation in the Armed Forces.
1948 | The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act
Congress gave members of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), a branch of the U.S. Army, full service status during World War II. However, the legislation that did so was set to expire in 1948. As early as 1946, Army leaders requested that enlisted women be made a permanent part of the Army. Following two years of legislative debate, Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in 1948. The act granted women the right to serve as permanent, regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and the recently formed Air Force.
1964 | Civil Rights Act
This act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964, prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal. It was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
1975 | Women Enter the Military Academies: Public Law 94-106 94th Congress
In 1975, then President Ford, signed Public Law 94-106 requiring the services to open the hallowed halls of West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy to women. In the fall of 1976 female cadets began their education and military orientation as the "Class of '80" became the first coed class.
2015 | Department of Defense Opens All Military Occupations, Positions to Women
In 2015, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced the decision to open all combat jobs in the United States military to women. This meant that all military occupations and positions would be open to women, without exception.

Government Websites

Commission on Civil Rights

The United States Commission on Civil Rights has published hundreds of reports since its inception in 1957.

Historical Publications of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
The Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the University of Maryland has worked since 2001 to create a complete electronic record of United States Commission on Civil Rights publications held in the Library's collection and available on the USCCR Web site.
Browse by report title, date, or subject topic.
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: official website
Established by the Civil Rights Act of 1957 as an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding federal agency, the USCCR informs the development of national civil rights policy and enhances enforcement of federal civil rights laws.

Congressional Documents

Congressional Publications (ProQuest)
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See legislative histories, Congressional profiles, Congressional research reports, bills by number, hearings, and the U.S. Serial Set, along with other congressional publications. An excellent starting point for a variety of multidisciplinary research. Advanced searching will allow the user to select a specific content type, witness, Public Law number or other facet of the content. Historical background is provided in the Congress in Context feature, which provides important contextual information about the economic trends and conditions, political climate and more.