Second Enforcement Act

Enforcement Act of 1871

Long title	An Act to amend an Act approved May thirty-one, eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled "An Act to enforce the Rights of Citizens of the United States to vote in several States of this Union, and for other Purposes."
Nicknames	Civil Rights Act of 1871, Second Ku Klux Klan Act
Enacted by	the 41st United States Congress
Citations
Statutes at Large	16  Stat.   433–440
Codification
Acts amended	Enforcement Act of 1870
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 2634 by John C. Churchill (R–NY) on January 9, 1871 Committee consideration by House Judiciary Passed the House on February 15, 1871 (144 - 64 [1] ) Passed the Senate on February 24, 1871 (39 - 10 [2] ) Signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on February 28, 1871

The Second Enforcement Act of 1871, sometimes called the Civil Rights Act of 1871 or the Second Ku Klux Klan Act, was a United States federal law. The act was the second of three Enforcement Acts passed by the United States Congress from 1870 to 1871 during the Reconstruction Era to combat attacks on the voting rights of African Americans from groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

Legislative history

Republican Representative John C. Churchill from New York introduced his bill H.R. 2634 in the 41st United States Congress. The bill was passed by Congress on February 15th, 1871, and signed into law by United States President Ulysses S. Grant on February 28, 1871.

Legislative breakdown

The Senate vote breakdown by party of the Enforcement Act of 1971.

H.R. 2634 was brought to a floor vote in the chambers of the US House on February 15, 1871. Three political parties were present to vote on the motion to pass H.R. 2634, the Second Enforcement Act of 1871. The Republican Party voted 143 in favor, 3 against. The Democratic Party voted 0 in favor, 58 against. And the Conservative Party voted 1 in favor, 3 against. 32 members did not vote. ^[3] It was brought to a floor vote in the chambers of the US Senate on February 24, 1871. Three political parties were present. Republicans voted 38 in favor, 1 against. Democrats voted 0 in favor, 7 against. and Liberal Republicans voted 0 in favor, 0 against. 24 members did not vote. 1 Aye and 2 Nay votes were recorded, but unattributed to a party. ^[4]

The House vote breakdown by party of The Enforcement Act of 1871.

References

1. "Congressional Globe, 41st Congress, 3 session, page 1285". Library of Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
2. "Congressional Globe, 41st Congress, 3 session, page 1655". Library of Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
3. "Roll Call Votes - House Vote #565 in 1871 (41st Congress)". govtrack.us. October 17, 2025.
4. "Roll Call Votes - Senate Vote #677 in 1871 (41st Congress)" . Retrieved October 17, 2025.