Which legislative act was first to attempt to protect individuals from discrimination by public institutions?

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 is recognized as the first legislative act aimed at prohibiting discrimination in public facilities and service, asserting that all individuals are entitled to equal rights regardless of race. This legislation aimed to combat racial discrimination in public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters, and included provisions to protect individuals from being denied service or access based on their race.

Although the effectiveness of the Act was undermined by subsequent Supreme Court rulings, which declared it unconstitutional in parts, it laid foundational principles for civil rights legislation that would emerge in later decades. This historical context is crucial, as it highlights the ongoing struggle against discrimination and the evolving interpretation of civil rights in the United States.

The other legislative acts mentioned, while significant in their own contexts, focused on different aspects of civil rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, for instance, expanded and enforced the principles set forth in the earlier act but came many years later, specifically addressing discrimination in employment and public accommodations on a broader scale. In contrast, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1957 focused specifically on voting rights and addressing racial discrimination in the electoral process, thus not targeting public institutions in the same way that the Civil Rights Act