Final answer:
African slavery in the New World was characterized by its hereditary, race-based nature, setting up a harsher system than previous labor systems, leading to significant legal changes and persistent inequalities. Civil War Amendments introduced basic protections for African Americans, but their rights were still undermined, necessitating continued civil rights movements and efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
African slavery in the New World differed fundamentally from previous instances of slavery and other labor systems of the same era in several core aspects, setting a precedent for the legal changes and impacts on African Americans that would follow. A significant difference was the hereditary nature of New World slavery, making it a lifelong and inherited condition, unlike many other historic forms of slavery which allowed for the possibility of freedom. Moreover, slavery in the New World was based on race, with Africans and their descendants being the primary targets. This chattel slavery was justified by a belief in European superiority and the dehumanization of African peoples.
The Civil War Amendments, including the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and the 15th Amendment which prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, were landmark legal protections. However, African Americans' rights continued to be undermined through practices like poll taxes, literacy tests, and Jim Crow laws, contributing to systemic inequalities that lasted well into the 20th century and beyond.
The civil rights movement sought to bring discrimination to public attention through strategies like nonviolent protest and legal challenges, leading to significant legislation in the 1960s. Despite progress, issues like De Facto segregation and discrimination have persisted. Legislation and civil rights efforts continue to evolve in addressing these deep-seated issues.