A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the Civil Rights Bill ultimately aimed at achieving?

1. Granting rights to freed slaves

2. Ending segregation in schools

3. Establishing labor rights for African Americans

4. Providing land to free slaves

The correct answer is: Granting rights to freed slaves

The Civil Rights Bill, especially the one passed in 1866 and later reinforced by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was fundamentally aimed at securing and protecting the rights of all citizens, particularly freed slaves, in the face of systemic discrimination. This legislation sought to provide full citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, which included granting rights such as the ability to make contracts, sue, and own property. The primary focus was to remove the legal barriers that had perpetuated the oppression of African Americans following the Civil War and to ensure their integration and equality in society. While there are aspects of the Civil Rights legislation that pertain to ending segregation in schools and establishing labor rights, the overarching goal at its inception revolved around the immediate need to grant citizenship rights to freed slaves. Additionally, the provision of land was not a direct aim of the Civil Rights Bill; rather, this was part of different policies and discussions during Reconstruction that often did not materialize as intended.