What was the fate of the 1875 Civil Rights Act after legal challenges?

• A. It was never enforced
• B. It was ruled unconstitutional in Civil Rights Cases (1883)
• C. It was upheld nationwide
• D. It was expanded nationwide

Answer: (B)

The main idea is understanding how the 1875 Civil Rights Act was challenged in court and what that reveals about federal power under the 14th Amendment. The act aimed to guarantee equal access to public accommodations and bar racial discrimination by private businesses. In the Civil Rights Cases of 1883, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not use the 14th Amendment to regulate private acts of discrimination, because the 14th Amendment bans state action, not private conduct. Since the act tried to regulate private businesses, it was struck down as unconstitutional in that context. This meant the federal government’s reach to enforce equal access in private settings was limited for many decades, until later civil rights laws were enacted in the 20th century.