-
13th Amendment
This law outlawed slavery in all U.S. states and territories, thus freeing African Americans. An unintended consequence was the discrimination of the now freed African Americans. There were many atrocities done to the African Americans that wouldn't have happened without the 13th Amendment being passed -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment stated that "born or naturalized in the United States" had “equal protection under the laws”. This included newly freed slaves. All freedmen would be protected under the bill of rights, which was the big thing. An unintended result of this act, as well as the 13th Amendment, was the formation of the KKK. -
15th Amendment
This Amendment gave African-American men the right to vote. This was a huge win for the Radical Republicans. Inside this amendment, there is a massive loophole. It only "prohibited discrimination on the basis of race and former slave status." States could still require voters to pass a test, or even has a poll tax. The poll tax would be very difficult for the freedmen, as they had little money to begin with. -
Enforcement Acts
Doubling down on the 15th Amendment, congress passed this act. It created penalties for people who are interfering with a person's right to vote. It also gave the president the right to use the army to uphold the act, as well as giving federal marshals the right to charge offenders with various crimes. This, as well as the other enforcement acts, helped eradicate the KKK. These were three bills that were passed that helped build on what the others forgot, or enforce what is already law. -
The KKK Act
The main focus of the KKK Act, was to combat vigilantism. This act allowed the president to deploy troops in order to help combat the Klan. It also suspended the right of Habeas Corpus. This allowed the government to make arrests without charge, which was very important in taking down the Klan. This act fueled the end of the KKK. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
This act guaranteed all citizens, regardless of race, access to theaters, public schools, cemeteries, as well as other accommodations.