Law
Enforcement Act of 1870
Protected voting rights of Black Americans and enforced the 15th Amendment.
Year
1870
Impact
Positive
Status
Active
Party
Republican Party
Era
Civil War and Reconstruction
Impact Context
Enabled federal prosecution of voter suppression and intimidation.
What This Policy Did
Enabled federal prosecution of voter suppression and intimidation.
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Sources
Government
U.S. Senate • Government
Senate history page explaining that Congress passed the Enforcement Acts to combat violence and intimidation aimed at suppressing Black voting and political participation during Reconstruction.
U.S. Senate • Government
U.S. Senate page hosting the original document image for the Enforcement Act of 1870.
U.S. Department of Justice • Government • Aug 16, 2018
DOJ overview stating that Congress enacted the Enforcement Act of 1870 after ratification of the 15th Amendment, including criminal penalties for interference with the right to vote.