The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a landmark piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress during the Reconstruction Era. It aimed to protect all citizens, regardless of race, from discrimination in public accommodations such as hotels, theaters, and transportation. The act also prohibited the exclusion of African Americans from jury service.

Despite its noble intentions, the Civil Rights Act of 1875 faced significant opposition and was ultimately weakened by a series of Supreme Court decisions. In 1883, the Supreme Court ruled in the Civil Rights Cases that the act was unconstitutional, arguing that the government could not regulate the actions of private individuals or establishments. This decision effectively invalidated the act and set back civil rights progress in the United States.

The failure of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 highlighted the challenges faced by African Americans in their fight for equality and justice. It would take several more decades and a sustained civil rights movement before major legislative victories, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, were achieved to protect the rights of all Americans regardless of race.