The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of which characteristic, with no exceptions?

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

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how early federal law protected people in housing contracts. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was designed to ensure that everyone could enter into real estate agreements—buying, leasing, or selling property—without being treated differently because of their race. It guarantees equal access to housing rights with no allowances or exceptions tied to race. Religion and national origin aren’t addressed by this statute in the way race is, and while color is also protected under the act, the characteristic most consistently emphasized and tested as the basis for discrimination in housing under this law is race. In short, the Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, with no exceptions.