Wednesday, February 15, 2006

This Day in Republican History 2/08/06

February 8, 1894 Democrat Congress and Democrat President Grover Cleveland join to repeal Republicans’ Enforcement Act, which had enabled African-Americans to vote The Enforcement Act of 1870 was passed in order to give the 15th Amendment its teeth. It imposed harsh penalties on anyone convicted of preventing any citizen from voting. Two other Enforcement Acts were passed in 1871. The Enforcement Act of February 28, 1871 expanded federal control over the election process as a way to curb state abuses. Because it had the effect of curbing voting fraud, Democrats naturally repealed the Act as soon as they could. The Enforcement Act of April 20, 1871 outlawed the Ku Klux Klan. For a time the Klan was eliminated, not so much because of effective law enforcement or newfound civic-sensibilities in Democratic bigots; rather, it wasn't needed when the terrorists themselves held the reins in State government. Despite the Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871, enforcement of the 15th Amendment would not actually happen until the Civil Rights Act of 1965 became law. Democrats also opposed that act. It would not have passed without Republican support.

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