Question

excerpt: \that if two or more persons shall band or conspire... to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any citizen... in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right... they shall be deemed guilty of felony.\ ku klux klan act, 1871
which role did the federal government assert here? (standard ushc.2.cx) (dok 2)
encouraging violence to suppress reconstruction
protecting civil rights from state and private violence.
abandoning enforcement of reconstruction laws.
leaving civil rights protection solely to states.

Explanation:

The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was passed to combat violence and intimidation (like that from the KKK) which targeted citizens (especially newly - freed African Americans during Reconstruction) and their civil rights. The act made it a felony for groups to conspire to injure, oppress, etc., citizens in the exercise of their rights. This shows the federal government's role in protecting civil rights from both state (if state governments were complicit or unable to stop private violence) and private (like KKK) violence.

• The first option “Encouraging violence to suppress Reconstruction” is wrong because the act was against such violence.
• The third option “Abandoning enforcement of Reconstruction laws” is incorrect as the act is an example of enforcement.
• The fourth option “Leaving civil rights protection solely to states” is wrong since the federal government was taking an active role (by passing this act) rather than leaving it to states (which in some cases were part of the problem).

Answer:

Protecting civil rights from state and private violence.