Final answer:
African American lives were shaped by the end of Reconstruction with the rise of Jim Crow laws, economic hardship, and social segregation. The Great Migration marked a turning point, offering new opportunities in the North, setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the Reconstruction ended, the lives of African Americans faced both continuities and changes. The period immediately following Reconstruction saw white Democrats regain control in the South, stripping many African American men of their recently acquired political roles and subjecting the black population to Jim Crow laws, social segregation, and violence, especially from groups like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Although the end of slavery granted legal freedom, true equality was far from being achieved, as African Americans continued to face discrimination and economic challenges, often working as sharecroppers or tenants under oppressive conditions.
The early 20th century, however, brought new opportunities for African Americans. The Great Migration saw over a million African Americans leave the South for industrial jobs in the North, spurring economic and social mobility. Despite the harsh realities of racial discrimination, African American veterans and civilians alike pursued greater civil rights, contributing to the eventual Civil Rights Movement that would gain momentum after World War II.