The Civil Rights Act of 1875 Was a Bold Attempt

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a bold attempt by Congress to rectify discrimination through federal legislation. The Supreme Court in 1883 issued a ruling concerning this law in The Civil Rights Cases. What was the Court's conclusion?

A) That the legislation was constitutional and valid as well as necessary to advance full and equal civil rights
B) That the legislation was unconstitutional because it usurped state powers, so it could not be enforced
C) That the legislation was valid but should have included a right to vote for the affected individuals
D) That the Court had full authority to override state laws and traditions
E) That the U.S. Constitution was a living document that must frequently be amended to meet contemporary challenges