1. Segregation and Jim Crow Laws
VS.8b

2. African Americans Can Vote
During Reconstruction, Northern troops moved in to the southern states to try to enforce the new constitutional amendments with some help from the Freedman’s Bureau. Because of this, African Americans finally began to have power in Virginia’s elections. Many black leaders were elected to local and state offices and men of all races could vote!

3. Questions You will not get the answers for these questions.
Think about your answers and write them down!
Why do you think Northern troops chose to move in to the southern states?
Do you think the Freedmen’s Bureau is working?
Do you think women had the same rights as men?

4. Some Concerns
Just as things were starting to get better, some white citizens came forward and voiced their concerns. They wanted things to return to the way they had been before Reconstruction. Unfortunately, the freedoms and rights promised to African Americans were slowly taken away.

5. Questions Who had concerns about what was happening?
Some of the white citizens
Why did they have concerns?
They wanted things to return to the way they had been before Reconstruction
What happened as a result of these concerns?
Slowly the freedoms and rights promised to African Americans were taken away.

6. Jim Crow Laws
After Reconstruction, southern states passed the Jim Crow laws which affected the lives of African Americans and American Indians.
These laws established segregation (the separation of people, usually based on race or religion) and reinforced the prejudices held by whites.

7. Discrimination
African Americans experienced discrimination, which is the unfair difference in the treatment of people, in the following ways:
Jim Crow laws made it almost impossible for African Americans to vote or hold public office.
All voters had to pay a poll tax of $6.00.
Election officials were allowed to give voters a Literacy Test. They had to pass it in order to vote.

8. Segregation
Jim Crow laws created segregation, which is the separation of races, usually based on race or religion. African Americans were forced to use separate services such as restaurants, drinking fountains, and restrooms. African American and white children had to attend separate schools.

9. Questions Jim Crow laws African Americans and American Indians.
What was passed by the southern states after Reconstruction?
Jim Crow laws
Who did these laws affect?
African Americans and American Indians.
What did these laws establish?
Segregation, the separation of people, usually based on race or religion
What did African Americans experience under these laws?
Discrimination, the unfair difference in the treatment of people

10. African Americans Worked Together
These laws angered African Americans. Many formed groups to fight Jim Crow laws. They wrote letters, held meetings, and organized protests. These laws also caused many African Americans to work together to improve their lives and their communities. They began to start their own businesses and train to become doctors, lawyers, and teachers so that they could better serve the needs of their community.

11. Questions What did Jim Crow laws do? What did Jim Crow laws create?
angered African Americans
What did Jim Crow laws create?
groups to fight against “Jim Crow” laws
How did Jim Crow laws affect African Americans?
These laws also caused many African Americans to work together to improve their lives and their communities
Think! Did these laws help or hurt African Americans?