The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits discrimination based on

• A. Race
• B. Religion
• C. National origin
• D. Color

Answer: (A)

Discrimination based on race is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This landmark law was enacted to ensure that all citizens have the same rights to enter into and enforce contracts, sue, be parties, and enjoy the protections of the law without regard to race. The grounds targeted by this statute are race-related, and religion or national origin are not the provisions this act was designed to address. Color is often discussed in relation to race, but the fundamental protection in this act centers on race itself. Later civil rights laws broaden protections to additional categories, but the 1866 statute establishes the race-based prohibition.