Why did Congress pass the Civil Rights Act of 1866?

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to establish that people born in the United States, except Native Americans subject to tribal authority, were citizens and had equal civil rights. Those rights included making contracts, owning property, and access to the courts. The act applied to citizens regardless of race, but it did not grant women the vote or outline rights for all men in every respect, making C the best choice.

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