1881-1900

Spanish American War

As waves of racial fury filled the South at the end of the 1900's, a little bit of hope began to appear. America started war with Spain in 1898. Black soldiers were needed to fight for their country. The blacks helped win the Theodore Roosevelt victory at the battle of San Juan Hill. By the end of the war, African Americans gained little from their important role in the war.

Civil Rights Act Declared Unconstitutional

In 1883, the Supreme Court declared that the Civil Rights act, forbidding discrimination, was unconstitutional. The court also said that it was not authorized by the 13th or 14th amendment. The decision angered the black community and many other whites. They felt that this opened the doors for legal segregation.