The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed by the United States Congress on March 1, 1875. It was a piece of legislation that sought to protect the civil rights of African Americans during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War. The Act prohibited racial discrimination in public accommodations, such as hotels, theaters, and other public places. It aimed to ensure that all individuals, regardless of race, could access and enjoy these establishments equally.

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 faced significant opposition from white supremacist groups and was not effectively enforced. In 1883, the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Civil Rights Cases that the Act was unconstitutional, stating that the federal government did not have the authority to regulate individual acts of discrimination by private individuals or businesses.

The failure of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 highlighted the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality in the United States, and it would take decades of persistent activism and legal battles before significant progress was made in securing the rights of African Americans.