The historical act of 1866 primarily targeted discrimination by which of the following?

• A. Private individuals
• B. Governmental entities
• C. Corporations
• D. Nonprofit organizations

Answer: (B)

This question centers on recognizing which actors federal law aimed to curb when addressing civil rights after the Civil War. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was designed to counter state- and local-government actions that denied newly freed Black people their basic rights. It defined citizenship and guaranteed equal rights under the law, with enforcement aimed at state laws and practices—things like Black Codes—that deprived people of rights by governmental authority. While private individuals could still discriminate, the core purpose was to prevent discrimination by governmental entities and to ensure protections against state action. That focus on state and local government action is why governmental entities is the best answer.