What were the Enforcement Acts of 1870-1871? These were acts designed to force more participation in voting by southern Democrats who had left politics during Reconstruction. These were acts designed to prevent fraud and election-tampering in southern Reconstruction elections. These were acts designed to protect blacks and white Republicans from the intimidation tactics of white supremacist groups like the Klan and the White League. These were acts designed to stop the corrupt influence of political leaders like "Boss" Tweed in Tammany Hall. These were penalties against ex-Confederates who tried to participate in the political process without Congressional approval.

These were acts designed to protect blacks and white Republicans from the intimidation tactics of white supremacist groups like the Klan and the White League.

A stipulation in the 1st Enforcement Act (1870), for instance, stated: "I f two or more persons shall band or conspire together, or go in disguise upon the public highway, or upon the premises of another, with intent to violate any provision of this act, or to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any citizen with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise and enjoyment of any right or privilege granted or secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States ... such persons shall be held guilty of felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, at the discretion of the court."