Leasing License Practice Exam

Which amendment influenced the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

1. 1st Amendment

2. 14th Amendment

3. 15th Amendment

4. 19th Amendment

The correct answer is: 14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment significantly influenced the Civil Rights Act of 1866 because it addresses issues of citizenship and equal protection under the law. Ratified in 1868, the 14th Amendment guaranteed that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and that no state could deny any person the equal protection of the laws. This amendment aimed to protect the rights of newly freed slaves after the Civil War and was a critical basis for civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was designed to affirm the rights of African Americans and ensure that they would have the same legal rights as white citizens. It sought to combat the restrictive Black Codes enacted by Southern states, which aimed to limit the freedoms of African Americans. The Act was built on the principles laid out in the 14th Amendment, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to protect the civil rights of all citizens, particularly formerly enslaved individuals. While the other amendments listed relate to various rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, voting rights, and women's suffrage, they came into play in later civil rights discussions and legislation but did not directly impact the foundational civil rights policies established by the Civil Rights Act of 1866 in the same way the 14