Introduction The post-Civil War period is characterized by significant changes in the US political, economic, and value systems. The social and political upheavals during the Reconstruction Era influenced many social groups, but they had the strongest effect on the position of African Americans in the country. After the abolition of slavery in 1863, the freed African Americans were still up against multiple challenges on the way to economic and social welfare as the southern states’ authorities strived to maintain the status quo and did not provide freedmen with equal opportunities. The adoption of the Enforcement Acts of 1870-1871 by the under the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant may be regarded as the initial step towards the promotion of social equity in the United States because it helped to ensure some legal protection for African Americans and criminalize the actions against their freedom. Although the acts did not bring substantial positive changes immediately, they largely supported former slaves in their attempts to withstand the racist beliefs held by whites, as well as their unwillingness to change. The analysis of the reactions to the acts adopted throughout the Reconstruction Era helps to reveal the views and societal beliefs that prevailed during that time in the country and complicated the attempts to improve the lives of African Americans. However, despite the initial challenges in the execution of the Enforcement Acts, their significance cannot be underestimated because they provided the foundation for forming modern democracy. Summary The Enforcement Acts were the responsive measures undertaken by Congress to multiple cases of violence and injustice towards African Americans. After the Civil War, African Americans were granted citizenship, and the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments were ratified in many states. But although the amendments to the Constitution supported the provision of civil rights to freedmen, the Congress did not foresee the risks of the southern states’ opposition 1 . Their resistance resulted in the adoption of the Enforcement Acts that were meant to protect the rights granted to former slaves. The Enforcement Act of 1870 provides legal support to all US citizens’ entitlement to vote. Section 2 of the act states that the citizens of any “race, color, or previous position of servitude” should be freely allowed to vote in any institution or a setting (e.g., State, county, city, school, etc.) under the regulation of any state or authority 2 . Some significant penalties for those who prevented the execution of the law were also outlined in the document. Individuals or groups and institutions that refused to receive votes of citizens entitled to vote were “deemed guilty of a misdemeanor against the United States” and considered liable to prosecution or punishment, e.g., large fines or imprisonment 3 . Additionally, the law empowered the federal government to handle the offenses committed against the provisions of the act and protect the civil rights by using the US naval forces and militia. The second Enforcement Act was passed on February 28, 1871, and was meant to amend the first act. Instead of providing the federal courts with total control over congressional elections, it assured the authoritative role of federa