Leasing License Practice Exam

What year was the first civil rights act enacted?

1. 1865

2. 1866

3. 1964

4. 1970

The correct answer is: 1866

The first Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1866. This landmark legislation aimed to protect the rights of newly freed African Americans following the Civil War. It was a significant step in the Reconstruction era, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of race, had the same rights in terms of contracts, property ownership, and legal protections. The act declared that all persons born in the United States were citizens, regardless of race, and entitled to equal rights, thereby laying the foundation for future civil rights legislation. In contrast, the other years represented by the other options refer to different vital pieces of civil rights legislation: the 1865 date corresponds to the end of the Civil War and the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery; 1964 marks the Civil Rights Act that prohibited discrimination and segregation in schools and employment; and 1970 aligns with the Fair Housing Act amendments that further extended protections against discrimination. Each of these events played a crucial role in the broader civil rights movement, but the 1866 Civil Rights Act is specifically recognized as the very first.