Legislation1866
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Passes Over Presidential Veto
Congress overrode President Andrew Johnson's veto to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal law to define U.S. citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It was designed to protect the rights of formerly enslaved people.
Why It Matters
This was the first major piece of civil rights legislation in American history, laying the groundwork for the 14th Amendment and establishing the principle that Congress can act to protect individual rights.