To suppress means to deliberately prevent or hinder the expression, growth, or development of something. In the context of post-Civil War laws in southern states, it refers to intentionally limiting the rights and opportunities of freed African Americans.
Related terms
Black Codes: Laws passed by southern states immediately after the Civil War that aimed to restrict the freedom and rights of African Americans.
Jim Crow Laws: Racial segregation laws enacted in southern states between 1876 and 1965 that enforced racial discrimination against African Americans.
Voting Restrictions: Various methods used by southern states such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses to disenfranchise African American voters during this time period.