The Civil Rights Act of 1875 helped former slaves enjoy full benefit of the law. They gained freedom to sell and own property. Full citizenship was granted where it formerly was not even considered. This act ultimately helped form the 14th amendment, which states that all citizens are equal. The Civil Rights Act forced states to give former slaves the right to vote or risk losing seats in Congress. Robert B. Elliot, a southern politician, who wrote the outline of this legislation, compared this necessary change to surgery. He said, “to arrest its growth and save the nation we have passed through the harrowing operation of intestine war, dreaded at all times, resorted to the last extremity, like the surgeon’s knife but ultimately necessary to extirpate the disease which threatened with the life of the nation the overthrow of civil and political liberty on this continent.” The Civil Rights Act was originally vetoed by current President Johnson, but Congress ultimately overrode the
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 helped former slaves enjoy full benefit of the law. They gained freedom to sell and own property. Full citizenship was granted where it formerly was not even considered. This act ultimately helped form the 14th amendment, which states that all citizens are equal. The Civil Rights Act forced states to give former slaves the right to vote or risk losing seats in Congress. Robert B. Elliot, a southern politician, who wrote the outline of this legislation, compared this necessary change to surgery. He said, “to arrest its growth and save the nation we have passed through the harrowing operation of intestine war, dreaded at all times, resorted to the last extremity, like the surgeon’s knife but ultimately necessary to extirpate the disease which threatened with the life of the nation the overthrow of civil and political liberty on this continent.” The Civil Rights Act was originally vetoed by current President Johnson, but Congress ultimately overrode the