Religious discrimination refers to ideas, expressed or non-expressed, that regard another person differently based on the religion they have chosen to follow. Usually, religious discrimination is of a negative context. In the United States, discrimination of religious characteristics held by a person is a violation of the law. This subject is of historical interest in the United States, as religious freedom was one of the primary reasons that settlers first came to America. In fact, the first amendment of the US Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to free exercises of religion. Years after this amendment was passed, federal legislation was also implemented to strictly prohibit unfair discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, lending, and education. According to the Fair Housing Act, a federal legislation passed in 1968, prohibits religious discrimination in housing. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also concerns religious discrimination specifying that people of different religions should be given the same opportunities in employment.