This left the Afro-American community without the
economic base necessary for competing in American society on an
equal basis.
The one achievement of Reconstruction had been to guarantee
minimum of political and civil rights to the ex-slave, but white
supremacy advocates were adamant in their intention to destroy
this advance. Where terror and intimidation were not successful,
relentless economic pressure by landowners, merchants, and
industrialists brought most of the ex-slaves into line. Year by
year they exerted less influence at the voting booths.
Although the country was aware of this, Northern liberals were
growing weary of the unending fight to protect the freedman.
Furthermore, masses of Northern whites sympathized with Southern
race prejudice. While they did approve of ending slavery, they
were not willing to extend social and political equality. The
North had begun to put a higher priority on peace than on
justice. Industrialists were expanding their businesses rapidly,
and they wanted the South to be pacified, so that it would be a
safe area for investment and expansion.
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