The Civil Rights Act, 1870

What was the Civil Rights Act of 1870?

The Civil Rights Act of 1870 (also known as the Enforcement Act) underlined the Fifteenth Amendment, by explaining the right of the federal government to prosecute anyone stopping African Americans from voting.

How did the Civil Rights Act of 1870 support the 15th Amendment?

The Civil Rights Act supported the 15th Amendment in two key ways.

• ❖ It made it illegal to discriminate in voting on the basis of race or colour.
• ❖ It made it illegal to wear disguises, threaten violence, or intimidate officials during the voting process.

Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1870 passed?

The Civil Rights Act (1870) was introduced because white southerners opposed equality for African Americans. For example, the Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1865, in Tennessee, to promote white supremacy and to terrorise African Americans.