African Americans During the Post-Civil War
"Explain how freedoms for African Americans were socially, politically, and economically limited from 1865 to 1900?" Posterior to the Civil War, African Americans weren't respected equally within society. Black codes were established, which meant cheap labor and an organized economy. African Americans weren't allowed to vote, carry weapons, or travel without permits which angered some citizens. Literacy tests, the grandfather clause, and poll taxes were used to prevent African Americans from voting in presidental elections. They also weren't allowed to marry persons of the white race, which probably upset many people during that time period. In 1868, the 14th amendment was officially valid, but it wasn't the end of all the segregation. Although it got rid of the Black Codes, discrimination continued and African Americans still had to deal with prejudice. In 1896, the Supreme Court had to deal with the argument of racial equality. They ruled segregation constitutional in the Plessy v. Fergurson case, which stated it was acceptable for the races (whites and blacks) to be seperated as long as they were treated equally. The Supreme Court might have decided this, but the practice of equality wasn't a success. African Americans found themselves to be in a horrendous distress. To relieve their struggle, more than 50,000 blacks traveled to the North and Midwest. This journey was called the Great Migration. The North provided them with better employment opportunities and cleaner working conditions. Blacks put up with problems within the economy, too. Labor union leaders who didn't want them as members and discriminated against them because they were afraid they'd steal their jobs. Real estate agents would even prevent them purchasing homes in certain areas. Business owners would only hire African Americans if no other labor source was obtainable, which is a really good indication of how much hatred white extremists had towards them. Blacks were also deprived by their