The Civil Rights Act of 1871, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, was a U.S. law aimed at protecting the civil rights of citizens, particularly in the Southern states. It allowed individuals to sue state officials for civil rights violations, especially those related to racial discrimination and violence. This act was a response to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and other groups that sought to undermine the rights of newly freed African Americans after the Civil War. The act was significant in empowering the federal government to intervene in cases of civil rights abuses. It provided a legal framework for individuals to seek justice against those who violated their rights, reinforcing the principles of equality and protection under the law. The Civil Rights Act of 1871 laid the groundwork for future civil rights legislation in the United States.