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The Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27–30, enacted April 9, 1866, reenacted 1870) was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. [1] It was mainly intended, in the wake of the American Civil War, to protect the civil rights of persons of African descent born in ...
- April 9, 1866
- the 39th United States Congress
- An Act to protect all Persons in the United States in their Civil Rights and liberties, and furnish the Means of their Vindication.
Learn about the first federal civil rights bill in U.S. history, passed after the Thirteenth Amendment and overriding President Johnson's veto. Read the full text of the act that granted citizenship and equal rights to African Americans and authorized federal courts to enforce them.
Oct 4, 2022 · Learn how the Civil Rights Act of 1866 defined U.S. citizenship and affirmed equal protection under the law for all races and colors. Find out how the Act succeeded and failed in advancing racial equality during the Reconstruction era.
- Robert Longley
Oct 3, 2023 · Learn about the legislation that validated the citizenship of former slaves and guaranteed their civil rights after the Civil War. Find out how it was enacted, enforced, and amended by the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Harry Searles
Jun 27, 2018 · Learn about the historical context, objectives, and impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship and equal rights to freed slaves after the Civil War. Explore the legislative debate, the Black Codes, and the Thirteenth Amendment.
Mar 14, 2016 · Read the full text of the law that granted citizenship to freedpeople after the Civil War. Learn about the historical context, the main provisions, and the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
Learn about the legislation that granted citizenship and equal rights to former slaves after the Civil War. Read the full text of the act, its historical context, and study questions to explore its implications and controversies.
