The Civil Rights Cases of 1883 were significant for which reason?

The Civil Rights Cases of 1883 were significant primarily because they invalidated the federal government's ability to protect civil rights in public accommodations, particularly businesses and areas open to the public. In a series of decisions, the Supreme Court effectively ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was unconstitutional, stating that the Fourteenth Amendment did not give Congress the power to regulate private conduct or protect individuals against discrimination in private businesses or public accommodations. This ruling significantly weakened the federal government's ability to enforce civil rights protections and led to increased racial discrimination, particularly in the South, until the civil rights movement of the 20th century sought to reverse these decisions.