Civil Rights Acts
- These are a set of laws passed between 1866 and 1875, parts of which are embedded in multiple sections of the 42nd title of the U.S. Code. Initially, these laws established the rights of African Americans to file lawsuits, provide testimony in court, and own property. The law also authorized federal authorities to impose penalties on those obstructing African Americans from registering to vote, voting, holding office, or jury service. The 1875 Civil Rights Act banned racial discrimination by those running public establishments like inns and public transportation, but it was overruled by the Supreme Court in the United States v. Stanley case in 1883. Due to this ruling, which established that the Fourteenth Amendment only protected against discrimination by government entities, not individuals, no significant civil rights legislation was passed until the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964
- The Civil Rights Acts marked significant progress in eliminating discrimination in various sectors of public life.
- With the passing of the Civil Rights Acts, marginalized groups were given the right to sue and be sued, to give evidence, and to own property.
- While the first Civil Rights Acts covered some areas, it wasn't until the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964 that discrimination by individuals was significantly addressed.
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