The case of Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States arose from the civil rights movement's fight against racial segregation in public accommodations. The Heart of Atlanta Motel, located in Atlanta, Georgia, was known for its refusal to accept Black customers, arguing that such segregation was a matter of state rights and free enterprise. The owners contended that their practices were protected under the 14th Amendment, which grants states rights to regulate businesses. However, the federal government asserted that the motel's discriminatory practices had a direct impact on interstate commerce, thereby invoking the Commerce Clause to challenge the motel's policies.

In 1964, with the civil rights movement gaining momentum, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which aimed to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This act sought to ensure equal access to public accommodations and laid the groundwork for broader protections. The motel’s legal challenge reached the Supreme Court, where the justices had to determine the extent of Congress's powers over private businesses in the context of the Commerce Clause, specifically whether Congress could regulate activities that discriminated against Black individuals under this Constitutional clause.

On December 14, 1964, the Supreme Court delivered a decisive decision, ruling that the Heart of Atlanta Motel could not refuse service to Black customers. The Court emphasized that racial discrimination in public accommodations negatively affects interstate commerce, allowing Congress to act to prohibit such practices. This case not only upheld the authority of the federal government to intervene in matters of civil rights but also established a critical precedent for future regulations aimed at combating racial discrimination in the United States.