Final answer:
The Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871 targeted the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, focusing on protecting civil rights and enforcing laws by outlawing intimidation at the polls and allowing federal prosecution of crimes against freed slaves. These laws were a step towards promoting racial equality, but their effect varied greatly and didn't entirely eradicate the violence and intimidation exerted by the Klan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enforcement Act of 1870 and 1871, also known as 'Force Acts,' were designed to curb the activities of terrorist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. The direct answer to your question in two lines would be 'd) Civil rights and law enforcement.' Essentially, these acts aimed to promote racial equality by outlawing intimidation at the polls and allowing federal prosecution of crimes against freed people.
The enactment of these laws was seen as a step towards inhibiting the Klan's influence. They were intended to ensure that the trials of racial crimes wouldn't be decided by White juries in southern states, which were friendly to the Klan. Furthermore, the acts also granted the President certain powers to instate martial law in areas under Klan control and suspend habeas corpus, allowing individuals linked with Klan activities to be arrested and jailed indefinitely.
However, the enforcement of these laws and their effectivity varied greatly. While there was a decline in violence and discrimination to some extent, it did not totally eliminate the aggression and intimidation exerted by the Klan and other similar groups. Efforts to achieve racial equality and protect civil rights, particularly for African Americans, remained a complex and persistent struggle.
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