The term refers to the social, political, and economic relationships between different racial groups in the United States after the Civil War. It encompasses issues such as segregation, discrimination, voting rights, and economic opportunities.
Related terms
Reconstruction: The period following the Civil War when efforts were made to rebuild and integrate Southern states back into the Union. It aimed to address post-war racial dynamics through laws and policies.
Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enacted in Southern states that enforced racial segregation between white and African American citizens. These laws perpetuated racial inequality during this era.
Ku Klux Klan (KKK): An extremist white supremacist organization that emerged in the post-Civil War period. The KKK used violence and intimidation tactics against African Americans and other minority groups to maintain white supremacy.