Resolution Commemorates 159th Anniversary of the 1866 Civil Rights Act, First Federal Law Defining Citizenship and Equal Protection

This resolution formally recognizes the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, pinpointing April 9, 1866, as the date this foundational legislation became law. It's essentially a Congressional nod to a major historical milestone – the very first federal law to define U.S. citizenship and guarantee that all citizens have equal protection under the law, specifically targeting the post-Civil War 'Black Codes' in Southern states that restricted basic rights like owning property or making contracts.

Setting the Stage for Equality

The resolution highlights the significance of the 1866 Act, passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto, as a direct response to attempts to undermine the Emancipation Proclamation. It wasn't just symbolic; it laid crucial groundwork. By establishing birthright citizenship (excluding certain groups like Native Americans not taxed at the time) and equal benefit of laws for all citizens regardless of race, it set precedents that would be more permanently enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment later on. Think of it as the federal government stepping in to say that basic civil rights – the ability to make contracts, sue, give evidence, and own property – couldn't be denied based on race.

Why It Still Resonates

Beyond just marking an anniversary, the resolution underscores the Act's lasting importance and connects it to the present day. It explicitly acknowledges the Act's role in shaping core American legal principles and reaffirms the need to actively uphold the rule of law to protect everyone's rights. While this resolution itself doesn't create new laws or programs, it serves as an official reminder of the long, ongoing effort to ensure equal protection and civil rights, tracing a direct line from the post-Civil War era to today's legal landscape.