- Resistance to the abolition of slavery: Many whites in the South were outraged by the abolition of slavery and viewed it as a threat to their way of life. They tried to find ways to limit the freedoms of African Americans and maintain white supremacy.
- Black Codes: Southern states enacted Black Codes, which were a set of laws that severely limited the rights of African Americans. These codes restricted their ability to own property, vote, testify in court, and serve on juries.
- Jim Crow laws: After the Black Codes were overturned by the federal government, Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws, which imposed racial segregation in public facilities and services. These laws made it difficult for African Americans to access education, healthcare, and transportation.
- Disenfranchisement: Southern states also used poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures to disenfranchise African Americans and prevent them from exercising their right to vote.
- Violence and intimidation: White supremacist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, used violence and intimidation to terrorize African Americans and prevent them from asserting their rights.
These efforts to limit civil rights during Reconstruction were a way for Southern states to maintain their traditional power structures and prevent the full participation of African Americans in society.