The Aftermath of Reconstruction
During the reconstruction period, the federal government enacted some laws to protect the rights of the freedmen at the south. It is worth noting that during the reconstruction period, more than 2000 African American secured government jobs. These people were African -Americans who were formers slaves. By 1870s, the Democrats were slowly gaining power over the Southern states. This could be associated with the elections in which guerrilla groups intimidated opponents, attacking of African -American and preventing them to vote. In the New South, tension between the blacks and whites continued. Although a small percentage of black Americans secured job opportunities at steel mills and iron foundries, they were barred from textile factories. Factory owners preferred to employ white women and children instead of Africa Americans who were portrayed as lazy, shiftless, and ignorant. Many of the Africans were tied to the lands as tenant farmers or sharecroppers.
By 1900, segregation was the order of the day throughout the South and the civil rights of African American were significantly curtailed. Jim Crow Laws were enacted by the White Southerners with an aim of enforcing racial segregation across the South. Under this law, African American were required to demonstrated inferiority and subservience to white always. Blacks who succeeded in business could find their shops burned down by jealousy whites. Jim Crow was also characterized by disfranchisement of the blacks. In some instances, the whites could oppose black political identity by using bribery, intimidation, violence, and ballot-stuffing to record African American voted for the Democratic Party. Under Jim Crow only whites proliferated across the South in bus stations, swimming pools, water fountains, and publics. Black Americans who attempted to challenge the segregation faced violent reprisal or arrest.