President Ulysses S. Grant signs the Civil Rights Act of 1875, guaranteeing equal access to public accommodations regardless of race.
At a Glance
- Date
- 1 March 1875
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Ulysses S. Grant, Charles Sumner
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- Civil Rights Act of 1875 · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It was the last major civil rights law for 82 years before the Supreme Court gutted it in 1883.
What It Means Now
Its protections were effectively revived only by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Civil Rights Act of 1875 Is Signed.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1875-is-signed/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Civil Rights Act of 1875 Is Signed. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1875-is-signed/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Civil Rights Act of 1875 Is Signed.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1875-is-signed/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.