The Civil Rights Act of March 1, 1875
The following civil rights legislation passed
in 1875 was later delcared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and
represents the last Congressional effort to protect the civil rights
of African-Americans for more than half a century.
Whereas it is essential to just government we recognize the equality of all men before the law, and hold that it is the duty of government in its dealings with the people to mete out equal and exact justice to all, of whatever nativity, race, color, or persuasion, religious or political; and it being the appropriate object of legislation to enact great fundamental principles into law: Therefore,
Be it enacted, That all persons within the jurisdiction of the
United States shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of
the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns,
public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of
public amusement; subject only to the conditions and limitations
established by law, and applicable alike to citizens of every race
and color, regardless of any previous condition of servitude.
SEC. 2. That any person who shall violate the foregoing section by
denying to any citizen, except for reasons by law applicable to
citizens of every race and color, and regardless of any previous
condition of servitude, the full enjoyment of any of the
accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges in said section
enumerated, or by aiding or inciting such denial, shall, for every
such offense, forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars to the
person aggrieved thereby, . . . and shall also, for every such
offense, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than one
thousand dollars, or shall be imprisoned not less than thirty days
nor more than one year . . .
SEC. 3. That the district and circuit courts of the United States
shall have exclusively of the courts of the several States,
cognizance of all crimes and offenses against, and violations of, the
provisions of this act . . .
SEC. 4. That no citizen possessing all other qualifications which are
or may be prescribed by law shall be disqualified for service as
grand or petit juror in any court of the United States, or of any
State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude;
and any officer or other person charged with any duty in the
selection or summoning of jurors who shall exclude or fail to summon
any citizen for the cause aforesaid shall, on conviction thereof, be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined not more than five
thousand dollars.
SEC. 5. That all cases arising under the provisions of this act ...
shall be renewable by the Supreme Court of the United States, without
regard to the sum in controversy ...
Source: US Statutes at Large, Vol. XVIII, p. 335 ff.
History 122