What does the Civil Rights Act of 1866 guarantee?

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is a significant piece of legislation in U.S. history that guarantees equal rights specifically related to property transactions. It states that all persons born in the United States are citizens and have the right to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey property regardless of race or color. This Act was one of the first federal laws enacted to protect the civil rights of individuals, particularly aimed at ensuring that former slaves had the ability to own and control property.

This focus on property rights is essential because it laid the foundation for later civil rights protections by affirming that property ownership and associated rights are fundamental to citizenship and equality. The other choices refer to voting rights, age discrimination, and job security, which are addressed in different legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, but these are not the focus of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Thus, the guarantee provided by this Act is specifically about ensuring equal rights in property matters.