Lavery ended in America with the Civil War. But racit local government (and a generally racit American population) worked hard during Recontruction to prevent black from achieving real freedom, let alone any kind of equality. In 1896 the Supreme Court deciion in Pley v. Ferguon declared egregation legal, aying that "eparate but equal" wa the law of the land. Soon the South paed hundred of local egregation, or Jim Crow law to keep black out of white retaurant, factorie, train car and chool. Jim Crow law alo kept black away from the ballot through ballot taxe, literacy requirement and violent intimidation. Lynching of black men occurred throughout the South. For African American, freedom wa a dream deferred. It took a large number of people willing to fight for their right to change the racit tatu quo in America. Pley v. Ferguon legalized