The position of African-Americans

Question 1

Why was there anger amongst African-Americans after the 1877 compromise?

Answer 1

• They were no much better than they were before emancipation.
• Nothing done to provide freedmen with their own land.
• Barriers placed in the way of their right to vote or gain equality.
• Lynchings still occurred

Question 2

How had lives improved for black people?

Answer 2

• demonstrated independence by moving away from previous home district.
• chose new surnames
• exercised right to marry
• set up new churches
• opened small businesses.

Question 3

Describe the strong commitment to black education.

Answer 3

• Wealthy northern philanthropists set up charities and donated and donated money to found schools and universities.
• thousands of new public school were opened
• between 1866-1868, 3 uni’s were set up for black people.

Question 4

Describe how educational progress was patchy.

Answer 4

Racially-mixed schools were discouraged. More than half of African-Americans in the South were illiterate in 1890.

Question 5

What did the new state gov’s introduce for the blacks?

What did several states refuse to do?

Answer 5

‘Black codes’ - severe restrictions on the legal and economic rights of freedmen.
Refused to ratify the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery.

Question 6

How did congress respond to the Black Codes?

Answer 6

By passing the civil rights act of 1866, which made it illegal to discriminate against blacks by assigning them an inferior legal and economic status.

Question 7

List 3 features of the Black Codes

Answer 7

• Unemployed freedmen could be forced into working for white employers.
• Children of freedmen could be forced into working on plantations on apprenticeships.
• Freedmen could be prevented from receiving an education, buying land or serving on juries.