Social tensions

• Part 1 - it generated social tension in South. Most Southern whites resented the new social order because of racism fear, and bitterness over the losses suffered during Civil war. The majority of Southern whites were unwilling to accept black people as their equals. They were embittered and resentful because the war had destroyed the South's economy and around half of white Southern males had died. Freed black slaves were a reminder that it had been in vain.
• Part 2 - Southern whites resented new-found black self-confidence were fearful that newly freed slaves might resort to violence. Many former slaves had fought in Union army - learned to read, white in army schools. They took the lead in organising most meetings and petitions for civil equality. Black demands and white resentment led to widespread violence in South.
• Part 3 - Violence race riots occurred. Fights between black veterans and white police; encouraged the formation of white mobs; at least 40 black males murdered, females raped and black schools destroyed. They were many white attacks upon black people across the South : Texas courts indicted 500 white men for the murder of black Americans but not one of them was convicted.