The Enforcement Acts were passed by the United States Congress between 1870 and 1871. They were criminal codes which protected blacks’ right to vote, to hold office, to serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws. The laws also said that if the states failed to act and enforce these laws, the federal government had the right to intervene. These acts were passed following the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which gave full citizenship to anyone born in the United States or freed slaves. At the time, the lives of all newly freed slaves, and their political and economic rights were being threatened. This threat led to the creation of the Enforcement Acts.
Read more about Enforcement Acts: Goal, Regulations of Act, Historical Events Leading To The Act, Response and Effect
Famous quotes containing the word acts:
“Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins.”
—Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225–1274)