Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

Which act grants all citizens a set of basic rights regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude?

1. Civil Rights Act of 1964

2. Civil Rights Act of 1968

3. Civil Rights Act of 1866

4. Fair Housing Act

The correct answer is: Civil Rights Act of 1866

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is the foundational legislation that grants all citizens certain basic rights regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This act was a crucial part of the Reconstruction efforts following the American Civil War, aimed at ensuring that all persons born in the United States would have the rights to make contracts, sue, and own property. It set the stage for subsequent civil rights legislation by establishing that individuals cannot be discriminated against based on race or previous conditions of servitude. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 addressed discrimination in various areas such as employment and education, it built upon the principles established in lesser-known earlier acts, including the 1866 Act. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 further expanded protections relating specifically to housing. The Fair Housing Act, part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, specifically addresses discrimination in housing but is a more targeted approach than the broader rights established by the Civil Rights Act of 1866. In summary, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is the correct answer because it specifically established fundamental rights for all citizens, laying a legal foundation for the civil rights movement that would unfold over the next century.