Civil Rights Act Of 1875 Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Civil Rights Act Of 1875?

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a federal law passed by the United States Congress in 1875. The main purpose of the law was to grant African-Americans full and equal access to public accommodations, such as inns, theaters, and other places of public amusement. In addition to providing African-Americans with greater access to public accommodations, the Civil Rights Act also prohibited racial discrimination in jury selection and transportation. The Civil Rights Act was introduced during a time when African-Americans faced considerable discrimination in the United States. Laws such as Jim Crow laws had been implemented in many states that mandated segregation between whites and blacks. Additionally, blacks were often denied basic rights such as voting rights or access to quality education. The passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 represented a major victory for civil rights activists who had been fighting for equality since before the American civil war. Unfortunately, despite its good intentions, The Civil Rights Act did not have any real teeth due to a Supreme Court ruling in 1883 which declared it unconstitutional on the grounds that forcing private business owners to provide services equally regardless of race constituted an infringement on their right to freedom of contract under the 13th amendment. This decision essentially overturned parts of the act and negated its impact on civil rights issues at large throughout America. Despite this setback, civil rights activists continued their fight for equality until they finally won passage of another civil rights bill The Civil Rights Act Of 1964 which granted much broader protections than those provided by The act Of 1875 In conclusion, while The Civil Rights Act Of 1875 was an important development in improving African-American’s access to public accommodations and transportation, it ultimately failed due to its lack of enforcement powers enshrined within it from being struck down by the Supreme Court shortly after passage.