What did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 declare and how did it relate to citizenship?

• A. It declared that all persons born in the U.S. were citizens and sought to protect civil rights; it aimed to counter Black Codes.
• B. It granted suffrage to women and freedmen in all states.
• C. It nullified the Thirteenth Amendment and established separate schools.
• D. It declared states could determine citizenship by state law.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how citizenship and federal protection of civil rights were defined after the Civil War. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared that all persons born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens, and that they are entitled to the same civil rights as white citizens. It was a direct attempt to counter Black Codes by guaranteeing federal enforcement of those rights, regardless of race. This link between citizenship and civil rights laid the groundwork for birthright citizenship that would later be reinforced by the Fourteenth Amendment.

This act did not grant universal voting rights, nor did it nullify the Thirteenth Amendment or establish segregated or separate schools. It also did not leave citizenship up to state law.