The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a significant piece of legislation that sought to provide equal rights and protections for African Americans in the United States. The act aimed to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, such as hotels, theaters, and restaurants, and also aimed to guarantee equal access to jury service and the protection of African Americans against exclusion and discrimination in the workplace.

The act was passed by Congress on March 1, 1875, during the period of Reconstruction following the Civil War. However, the act faced significant opposition and legal challenges, and its enforcement was weak. In 1883, the Supreme Court declared key provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional in the Civil Rights Cases decision, ruling that the federal government did not have the authority to regulate private acts of discrimination.

The overturning of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a major setback for African Americans in their quest for equality and civil rights. It wasn't until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s that significant progress was made in securing civil rights legislation and protections for African Americans.