When were the
other Civil Rights Acts?
The law passed in 1866 was the first
of several pieces of legislation called the Civil Rights Act.
Additional Civil Rights Acts were passed in 1871 (Enforcement Acts),
the
Civil Rights Act
of 1875,
Civil Rights Act of 1957, 1964 and
1991. In addition between the years from 1964 to 1968 Congress
enacted extensive legislation affording African Americans equal
status under the law. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 part of the of
Congress to take control of the Reconstruction
of the union and ensure that slavery was eradicated in the United
States after the Civil War.
What was the Purpose of the
Civil Rights Act of 1866?
The
purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to protect ex-slaves
(Freedmen) from legislation in the Southern States such as the
Black Codes and the Vagrancy Laws.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 also gave further rights to the freed
slaves.
The purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
Civil Rights Act of 1866: What were the Black Codes?
The
Black Codes were laws that were
introduced in the Southern States restricting black people's freedom
and many Civil Rights preventing ex-slaves (Freedmen) to vote or
serve on juries, requiring permission to travel, enforcing harsh
labor laws, placing orphans placed into forced apprenticeships and
unequal laws and harsh punishments.
What were the Provisions of the
Civil Rights Act of 1866?
The
Provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
detailed the rights of U.S. citizens including the:
● The right
to full and equal benefit of all laws, the right to make
contracts, the right to sue, the right to give evidence in
court, the right to purchase and sell property, the right to
lease, inherit and pass on inheritance
The Provisions
of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 also stipulated the enforcement of
the act stating that:
●
"Anyone
who deprives a person of his or her civil rights as defined by
the act is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine
and/or imprisonment"
●
In
addition "...anyone who attempts to prevent the arrest of
someone who has violated the act’s terms is also punishable by a
fine and/or imprisonment..."
The act
further stipulated that the President can direct the resources of
the government to enforce these provisions and punish those who
violate them.
The Provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Text
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
was legislation that addressed the rights and equality of ex-slaves.
An important part of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 stated that:
"...all citizens
would have the same right “to full and equal benefit of all laws and
proceedings for the security of person and property,
as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like
punishment, pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law..."
Click the following link to access the full
Text of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
Why did President Johnson veto the
Civil Rights Act of 1866?
The
President Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on 27 March
1866 stating that blacks were not qualified for United States
citizenship and that the bill would "operate in favor of the colored
and against the white race." The Republicans in Congress were
outraged and overrode the presidential veto on April 9, 1866.
How did the
Civil Rights Act of 1866 become law?
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
was passed by Congress in a two-thirds majority over President
Andrew Johnson’s veto as a response to the Black Codes enacted by
many of the Southern states. It was signed by Schuyler Colfax,
Speaker of the House of Representatives and Lafayette S. Foster,
President of the Senate, pro tempore. The enactment of the Civil
Rights Act of 1866 was the first time a Important piece of legislation
was passed into law without presidential approval. The Civil Rights Act of 1866
overturned the Supreme Court’s
1857 Dred Scott decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that
African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not citizens of
the United States.
When was the
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Passed?
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
was a law passed by the Republican dominated
Congress on April 9, 1866.
What was the relationship between the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and
the Fourteenth Amendment?
The
controversy of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the extension of the
Freedmen's Bureau
was raging between the President and Congress.
Congress passed the
Civil Rights Bill to protect the ex-slaves. The Civil Rights Act of 1866
provided that cases concerning the civil rights of the freedmen
should be heard in the United States courts instead of in the state
courts. President Johnson vehemently objected to this believing that
Congress did not possess the power to take this action and vetoed
the bill. Congress overrode his veto and then drew up the
14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution
forbade the states to abridge (reduce) the rights of the citizens,
white or black. The 14th Amendment further provided that the
representation of any state in Congress should be diminished
whenever it denied the right of the amendment to any one, except for
taking part in rebellion. Finally it guaranteed the debt of the
United States, and declared all debts incurred in support of
rebellion null and void. Every Southern state, except Tennessee,
refused to accept this amendment.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Effects
The
Effects of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 were
obviously to benefit the ex-slaves in the South, but
it also:
●
Increased the
animosity between the President an the
Republicans in Congress
●
Encouraged the belief
that Reconstruction was a congressional, not an
executive, function.
●
Enraged the
Southern States
●
Led to
increased violent
acts of Vigilantism and increased the membership
of secret organizations such as the
Ku Klux Klan.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Significance
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
marked a
milestone in the African American struggle for
equality, and heralded further legislation during
the
Reconstruction Era.
However
Racial Segregation continued to be enforced
by the
Jim Crow Laws.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 for kids - Racial Discrimination and
Segregation
For additional facts about racial discrimination and
segregation refer to detailed information on
Black Segregation
History
and for brief, fast
facts refer to the
Segregation History Timeline.
Black
History for kids: Important People and Events
For visitors interested in African American History
refer to
Black History - People and Events.
A useful resource for
teachers, kids, schools and colleges undertaking
projects for the Black History Month.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 for kids - President Andrew Johnson Video
The article on the Civil Rights Act of 1866 provides an overview of one of the Important issues of his presidential term in office. The following
Andrew Johnson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 17th American President whose presidency spanned from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
●
Interesting Facts about Civil Rights Act of 1866 for kids and schools
●
Key provisions of the
Civil Rights Act of 1866 for kids
●
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, a Important
event in US history
●
Andrew Johnson Presidency from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869
●
Fast, fun, facts about the Civil Rights Act of 1866
●
Domestic
policies of President Johnson and Civil Rights Act of
1866
●
Andrew Johnson Presidency and
the Civil Rights Act of 1866 for schools,
homework, kids and children |