Leasing License Practice Exam

Which landmark case upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

1. Brown v. Board of Education

2. Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Company

3. Plessy v. Ferguson

4. Roe v. Wade

The correct answer is: Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Company

The case that upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Company. This significant Supreme Court ruling reinforced the principles of the 1866 Act, which aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in property transactions. The Court determined that Congress had the authority to regulate private discrimination under the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery and grants Congress the power to enforce laws that prevent discrimination based on race. This decision marked a pivotal moment in civil rights law, affirming that private entities could not discriminate against individuals based on their race when it came to buying, selling, or renting property. The other cases mentioned deal with different civil rights issues, and while they are important in the context of American legal history, they do not pertain to the Civil Rights Act of 1866. For example, Brown v. Board of Education addresses segregation in public schools, Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine regarding public facilities, and Roe v. Wade focuses on women's reproductive rights. Each of these cases addressed distinct aspects of civil rights, but Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Company specifically affirms the federal government's role in preventing racial discrimination in real estate transactions, directly related to the intentions of the Civil Rights