How did nineteenth-century Americans view racial equality?
Eric Foner: In the language of the nineteenth century, there are various degrees of equality. There’s sort of natural equality: All men are created equal, and all are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There’s political equality, which is the right to vote. There’s civil equality, which is equality before the law. And then there’s this kind of realm, this vague realm called social equality. Now, to some, this is very frightening. Social equality is thrown up as an argument against Reconstruction. It means intermarriage, interracial sexual relations — this is [seen as] a horrible thing. Of course no law is dealing with that, and the Republican Party keeps insisting, “Reconstruction [has] nothing to do with social equality in terms of personal intimate relationships.” Social equality also means access to public facilities. And that’s where the Civil Rights Law of 1875 is going. And it’s trying to legislate some kind of social equality, but that produces tremendous
