The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a federal law passed by the United States Congress during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. It aimed to provide equal rights and protections for African Americans in public accommodations like hotels, theaters, and transportation. The Act made it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on race in these public spaces.

However, the Civil Rights Act of 1875 faced significant challenges from the beginning. The law was difficult to enforce, and many businesses and individuals continued to discriminate against African Americans despite its provisions. In 1883, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Civil Rights Cases that the Act was unconstitutional, effectively gutting its enforcement power.

The failure of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 underscored the ongoing struggles for racial equality and justice in the United States. It was not until the mid-20th century that major civil rights legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, provided more comprehensive protections against racial discrimination.