History of the United States II / Unit 1 USH2 0011 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
Captions available
The idea
The Civil Rights Act of April eighteen sixty-six declared African Americans citizens and overturned the Supreme Court's eighteen fifty-seven Dred Scott decision.
In practice
Johnson vetoing the bill, and Congress passing it over his veto anyway.
Where people slip
The Yawp calls it the first federal attempt to define American-born residents, except Native peoples, as citizens.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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