gilded age 1877-1900

impact of fed gov

- 1890 force bill rejected by southern representatives as it would prevent intimidation from AAs voting

- mississippi v williams 1898 established that voters didnt only have to pay poll tax and be literate but also understand the constitution- led to significant decline of AA voters- 130k 1896 --> 5k 1900 (louisana)

- grandfather clause 1895- southern states used this to deny AAs vote- if grandfather couldnt vote neither could they

- people's party 1892 brief resurgence of AA political power as black votes were needed- violent reaction and demise 1896

- plesy v ferguson 1896- established principle of 'separate but equal'= jim crow wasn't unconstitutional - cunningham v board of education 1899 reinforced this in education

- north had de facto segregation and south had de jure and even though they had their citizenship they faced discrimination when exercising it

black activism in the gilded age

- in face of discrimination, developed many of their own organisations and support systems

- black churches continued to have a big influence and black businesses- barbers, shops, banks etc- struggled but were a testimony to AA determination

- booker t washington- in charge of a black school- tuskgee institute- committed to giving practical skills and gained white recognition

opposition to black civil rights in the gilded age

- lynching- rampant racial violence, 'executions' for disrupting racial order 1,875 lynchings in 1890s with no one convicted until 1918 as authorities supported or were part of it

- racial violence in north born out of fear as well as prejudice as AAs outnumbered whites in some towns