What was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in relation to public accommodations?

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, specifically in the case of United States v. Harris in 1883. This Act aimed to guarantee African Americans equal treatment in public accommodations, such as hotels and theaters, as well as in jury service. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not regulate private acts of discrimination, interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment as only preventing state-sponsored discrimination rather than addressing private discrimination.

Understanding this ruling is significant as it represents a pivotal moment in the post-Civil War era when efforts to secure civil rights for African Americans faced substantial legal and social challenges. This decision effectively curtailed the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, leading to decades of legalized segregation and the imposition of Jim Crow laws in the South.

The other options listed, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1870, the Freedmen's Bureau Act, and the Homestead Act, pertain to different aspects of post-Civil War legislation and do not address issues related to public accommodations, making them not relevant in this context.