Question

question 4 of 10

how did the u.s. supreme court rule on a challenge to the civil rights act of 1875?

a. the court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 was open to interpretation by the states.
b. the court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 was unconstitutional.
c. the court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 did not do enough to protect civil rights.
d. the court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 did not apply to voting rights.

Explanation:

Identify the historical context of the Civil Rights Act of 1875

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a federal law enacted during the Reconstruction Era that guaranteed African Americans equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation, and prohibited exclusion from jury service.

Analyze the Supreme Court's ruling on the Act

In 1883, the U.S. Supreme Court consolidated five similar cases into the Civil Rights Cases. The Court ruled 8–1 that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was unconstitutional.

Determine the constitutional basis of the decision

The Court declared that the Fourteenth Amendment only prohibited discrimination by state governments ("state action"), not by private individuals or businesses. This ruling paved the way for the rise of Jim Crow Laws and legalized segregation in the South.

Match the ruling to the correct multiple-choice option

The Court's decision directly declared the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional, which corresponds to option B.

Answer:

• (A) The Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was open to interpretation by the states.
• (B) The Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was unconstitutional. (Correct answer)
• (C) The Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 did not do enough to protect civil rights.
• (D) The Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 did not apply to voting rights.