Illinois Leasing Agent Practice Exam

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits discrimination based on which of the following?

1. Religion

2. Sex

3. Race

4. Disability

The correct answer is: Race

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, making this the correct answer. This historic legislation was one of the first attempts to provide equal rights to all individuals, particularly newly freed African Americans following the Civil War. It was designed to ensure that individuals had the same rights to enter into contracts, sue, and enjoy the benefits of property ownership without discrimination based on race. While other forms of discrimination, such as those based on religion, sex, or disability, are addressed in later civil rights legislation—most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act—these protections are not part of the 1866 Act. This focus on race in the 1866 law was a crucial step in the long struggle for civil rights in the United States, establishing the legal framework for future fights against all forms of discrimination.