To what extent do you agree that the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 were effective in expanding civil rights to freed slaves? Both laws aimed to protect basic human rights. of African Americans, using federal law following the American Civil War. However, this in itself is a major point of controversy, as these laws were intended simply to grant minimal rights to black people, immediately suggesting that their effectiveness was limited from the start. Although contrary to this, it can be argued that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, embodying the Civil Rights Act of 1866, was a "step in the right direction" and, however small, this movement was an essential starting point . indicate. The 1866 act defined all persons born in the United States (except non-tax-tax Indians) as domestic citizens, and this measure affirmed the right of the federal government to intervene in state affairs in cases of discrepancy . This was a major step forward for the black community in terms of official social status, particularly through the incorporation of this law into the constitution, meaning a sense of security. However, as will be seen, it was not the idyllic and harmonious beginning that many envisioned, supported by the introduction of the 1875 Act, designed to end segregation. When considering the long-term effectiveness of civil rights laws, it was in the legal and political sectors that prevailed, although it is important to remember that in the short term, the he importance/success was clearly greater in terms of symbolism and psyche than active reform. This is a very anachronistic view and of course a contemporary view would be very different, but as a starting example to support such a view, black people being given basic civil rights was...at the middle of paper ..... ., traditional techniques ineffective. Thus, despite the introduction of these civil rights laws, there was little improvement in the standard of living for blacks. Overall, it can be said that the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875 were extremely limited and in reality it was an ideology that lacked support and then some. and above all, the application. There are areas where they had an immediate impact, but their future importance is more relevant, as they laid the foundation for future equality. These were drastic and controversial laws, especially since a war had just broken out over them and any effect would inevitably be limited. The long term benefits most certainly outweigh the short term effects here and so to that extent one has to accept the point of view of the question but if one simply considers the direct and immediate effects then it must oppose.