Final answer:
After the Civil War, Southern states enacted restrictive laws like the Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws, which limited the rights of freedmen and cemented white supremacy through legislative means. The repeal of federal oversight of elections facilitated further disenfranchisement of African American citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period after the Civil War saw significant legislative efforts to restrict the rights of freedmen and enable former slaveholders to regain power. Key legislation and events that played a part in this process include:
- Black Codes: Laws passed by Southern states to control the behavior of freedmen and maintain a social and economic hierarchy favoring white citizens. They granted certain rights to African Americans but severely restricted their freedom and access to resources, reinforcing antebellum social structures.
- Jim Crow Laws: Enacted by Southern Democrats, these laws enforced segregation and denied African Americans their civil rights, such as voting and equal access to public facilities, well into the 20th century.
- Repeal of Federal Oversight: In 1894, when Democrats regained control of Congress and the presidency, federal oversight of elections was repealed, leading to disenfranchisement of African Americans through tactics like literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses.
Despite the creation of the Freedman's Bureau and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, these restrictive measures drastically reduced the progress made in African American civil rights post-Civil War.