14.3 The Rise of Jim Crow and the End of Reconstruction

The end of Reconstruction marked a dark turn for African Americans. As federal troops withdrew from the South, white supremacists regained control, eroding civil rights gains. This shift led to the rise of Jim Crow laws, establishing a system of racial segregation and discrimination.

Jim Crow laws touched every aspect of life, from schools to businesses. The Supreme Court's "separate but equal" ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson legalized segregation. Meanwhile, tactics like literacy tests and poll taxes stripped African Americans of voting rights, cementing white political dominance.

The End of Reconstruction

Compromise of 1877 and Its Aftermath

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• Compromise of 1877 resolved disputed presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden
• Hayes became president in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South
• Withdrawal of troops marked the official end of Reconstruction
• Southern Democrats regained control of state governments
• "Redeemers" took power, consisting of white conservative Democrats
• Black exodus involved African Americans migrating from the South to the North and West
  • Motivated by economic opportunities and escape from racial oppression
  • Kansas became a popular destination for many migrants (Exodusters)

Impact on African American Rights

• Redemption led to erosion of civil rights gains made during Reconstruction
• Southern states began implementing restrictive laws targeting African Americans
• Black political power diminished as white supremacists regained control
• Economic opportunities for African Americans became limited
• Education for African American children suffered setbacks
• Violence against African Americans increased with reduced federal protection

The Rise of Jim Crow

Legal Framework of Segregation

• Jim Crow laws established system of racial segregation and discrimination in the South
• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Supreme Court case upheld constitutionality of segregation
  • Established "separate but equal" doctrine
  • Legalized racial segregation in public facilities
• Segregation extended to various aspects of public life
  • Public transportation (separate train cars, bus seating)
  • Schools (racially segregated educational institutions)
  • Restaurants and businesses (separate entrances, service areas)
  • Public spaces (parks, theaters, water fountains)

Disenfranchisement Tactics

• Southern states implemented various methods to prevent African Americans from voting
• Literacy tests required voters to read and interpret complex texts
• Poll taxes imposed financial burden on potential voters
• Grandfather clauses exempted whites from restrictions if their ancestors could vote
• White primaries excluded African Americans from participating in Democratic Party primaries
• Intimidation and violence used to discourage African American political participation

Racial Violence and Oppression

Ku Klux Klan and Vigilante Violence

• Ku Klux Klan emerged as a white supremacist terrorist organization
• KKK used violence and intimidation to maintain white dominance
  • Lynchings became a common form of racial terror (hanging, burning)
  • Night rides to intimidate African American communities
• Other vigilante groups formed to enforce racial hierarchy (White League, Red Shirts)
• Racial violence often went unpunished by local law enforcement
• African Americans developed strategies for survival and resistance
  • Community networks for sharing information and protection
  • Self-defense organizations in some areas

Exploitation through Convict Leasing

• Convict leasing system allowed states to lease prisoners to private businesses
• Disproportionately affected African Americans arrested on minor or false charges
• Prisoners forced to work in harsh conditions (coal mines, railroads, plantations)
• System created economic incentive for mass incarceration of African Americans
• Mortality rates among leased convicts extremely high due to dangerous working conditions
• Convict leasing generated significant revenue for Southern states
• System persisted into the 20th century, evolving into chain gangs and prison farms