Who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866? This pivotal legislation was passed by the United States Congress, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s history. Signed into law by President Andrew Johnson on April 9, 1866, the act aimed to protect the civil rights of all citizens, regardless of race or ethnicity.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was a direct response to the post-Civil War period, where the newly freed slaves faced severe discrimination and violence. The act declared that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, were citizens of the United States and entitled to the same rights and protections as any other citizen. It also prohibited any state from denying any person “the equal protection of the laws,” effectively nullifying the “Black Codes” that had been enacted in the Southern states to restrict the rights of African Americans.
The act was a significant step towards ensuring equality for all citizens, but its passage was not without controversy. The bill faced strong opposition from Southern Democrats, who believed that the federal government had no right to interfere with state laws. The debate over the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was intense, with many Southern senators arguing that it was an unconstitutional overreach by the federal government.
Despite the opposition, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was ultimately passed by a narrow margin. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on February 2, 1866, with a vote of 111 to 82. It was then sent to the Senate, where it faced a fierce battle. After several months of debate, the Senate approved the bill on June 13, 1866, with a vote of 38 to 13. The bill was then sent to President Andrew Johnson, who signed it into law on April 9, 1866.
The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was a significant victory for the civil rights movement, but it was just the beginning of a long struggle for equality. The act was later invalidated by the Supreme Court in the 1883 case of Civil Rights Cases, which declared that the act was unconstitutional in its application to private individuals and businesses. Despite this setback, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 remains a crucial piece of legislation in the history of the United States, as it laid the foundation for future civil rights legislation and the ongoing fight for equality.
