Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States |
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| Argued October 5, 1964 Decided December 14, 1964 |
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| Full case name | Heart of Atlanta Motel, Incorporated v. United States, et al. |
| Citations | 379 U.S. 241 (more)
85 S. Ct. 348; 13 L. Ed. 2d 258; 1964 U.S. LEXIS 2187; 1 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) ¶ 9712
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| Prior history | Judgment for defendant, 231 F. Supp. 393 (N.D. Ga. 1964); probable jurisdiction noted, 379 U.S. 803 (1964). |
| Subsequent history | None |
| Holding | |
| Congress did not unconstitutionally exceed its powers under the Commerce Clause by enacting Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations. Northern District of Georgia affirmed. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Clark, joined by Warren, Douglas, Harlan, Brennan, Stewart, White, Goldberg |
| Concurrence | Black |
| Concurrence | Douglas |
| Concurrence | Goldberg |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. art. I Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 |
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Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States was a very important decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. It happened in 1964. This case said that the U.S. Congress had the power to make private businesses follow a new law. This law was called Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It stopped discrimination, which means treating people unfairly. This discrimination was based on a person's race, religion, or where they came from. The law applied to public places like hotels and restaurants.
Contents
What Was This Case About?
This case was a direct challenge to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This Act was a huge step forward for civil rights in the United States. It was the first big law about civil rights and race relations in almost 100 years. Before this Act, many African Americans faced racial segregation. This was a system where Black people and white people were kept separate.
The Idea of "Separate But Equal"
The idea behind segregation was "separate but equal". This meant that facilities for Black people and white people were supposed to be equal. But in reality, they were almost never equal. Places for African Americans were often much worse. They had poorer services and treatment.
Segregation in the South
Even after many court cases tried to end segregation, it was still common in the 1960s. This was especially true in the southern United States. The Heart of Atlanta Motel was located in the South. It refused to rent rooms to Black customers. This was a common practice at the time.
Why Was This Case Important?
The owner of the Heart of Atlanta Motel argued that Congress could not force him to serve Black customers. He said that Congress did not have the power to tell private businesses what to do. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
The Commerce Clause
The Supreme Court looked at a part of the U.S. Constitution called the Commerce Clause. This clause gives Congress the power to control trade and business that happens between different states. The Court decided that even a motel, which might seem local, affected trade between states. People traveling from one state to another needed places to stay. If motels discriminated, it made it harder for people to travel. This affected commerce.
The Supreme Court's Decision
The Supreme Court decided that Congress did have the power to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They ruled that the Act was a fair use of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. This meant that businesses like the Heart of Atlanta Motel could not discriminate based on race. This decision was a big victory for the Civil Rights Movement. It helped to end legal segregation in public places across the country.
Case Legacy
The Heart of Atlanta Motel case has been mentioned in many other court decisions since 1964. It helped shape how the Commerce Clause is understood today. It also showed that the government could step in to protect people's civil rights.
Later Cases
For example, in a 1997 case called Camps Newfound/Owatonna, Inc. v. Town of Harrison, a summer camp in Maine was compared to a hotel. The camp mostly served kids from other states. The courts said the camp was part of "interstate commerce" because it served people from different states. This was similar to how the Heart of Atlanta Motel served travelers. Another example is the 1966 case United States v. Guest. In this case, the courts ruled that it was against the Constitution to stop someone from traveling freely. This was important for protecting people's right to move between states without facing harm or discrimination.
