President Andrew Johnson, who ascended to the presidency after the murder of Abraham Lincoln, helped to re-establish White Supremacy in the American South by liberally granting pardons to ex-confederate officials and restoring the property rights of the Southern Planter Class (plantation owners). Discuss the effect of former slaves (Freedmen).
a) Former slaves faced continued discrimination and oppression as they struggled to exercise their newly gained freedoms.
b) Many former slaves experienced economic hardship and struggled to secure land and resources despite their emancipation.
c) The restoration of White Supremacy led to the implementation of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, further limiting the rights and opportunities of former slaves.
d) The actions of President Andrew Johnson exacerbated existing racial tensions and deepened the divide between the newly liberated African American population and the white ruling class.