Although the declaration
Of independence stated "All men are equal," due to the institution of slavery, this statement was nor to be grounded in law in the Untied States until after the Civil War( and, arguably, not completely fulfilled for many years thereafter). In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified and finally put an end to slavery.

Despite these Amendments, African Americans were often treated differently than whites in many parts of the country.


In fact, many state legislatures enacted laws that led to the legally mandated segregation of the races.