What were some barriers to radical social change that could have made things better for freed people following the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation?

Jim Crow laws

The biggest barrier was what we now call "white supremacy", the belief that former slaves and descendants of former slaves were inferior to white people of European ancestry. This was enforced, both in law and in practice, not just in the South but all over the nation. Read about "Jim Crow":

http://www.bing.com/search?q=jim+crow+laws&FORM=EDGNNC

"Jim Crow" laws were most common in the South. Discrimination in practice was not. Just for example, in Las Vegas, The Sands hotel and casino was a popular entertainment venue and hired famous stars to entertain there. When Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. were hired to perform as a single act in the early 1960s (not 1860s, 1960s), Davis was not allowed to stay in the hotel because he was black. Sinatra and Martin balked and said if Davis couldn't stay in the hotel with his buddies, they wouldn't perform. The Sands backed down because such a famous act in their showroom brought in business. When other black entertainers were hired to perform for "white" audiences, they had to enter the building through back doors or through the kitchen because white patrons did not want to "mix" with blacks in the lobby, not because of a law.

<<What were some barriers to radical social change that could have made things better for freed people following the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation? >>

Lack of basic literacy, availability of jobs (in the South), and basic financial literacy. In my view, after the civil war, the freed slaves had no marketable skills, no land, and most were illiterate in the South. They were in desperate conditions. Jim Crow laws did not emerge until the 1880's, and they just piled on the low social status already existent.

The period following the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation presented significant challenges and barriers to achieving radical social change for freed people. Some of these barriers included:

1. Limited Economic Opportunities: Despite gaining their freedom, freed people often faced limited economic opportunities. Many were sharecroppers or tenant farmers, trapped in cycles of debt and poverty. They lacked access to land, resources, and capital, which hindered their ability to establish stable livelihoods and accumulate wealth.

2. Discrimination and Segregation: A pervasive barrier was the enduring racism and discriminatory practices faced by freed people. Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and widespread segregation were implemented across the South, denying African Americans their civil rights and perpetuating a system of inequality. These practices restricted their participation in public life, education, housing, and employment.

3. Violence and Intimidation: Another significant barrier was the widespread violence and intimidation tactics employed by white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. These groups aimed to maintain white dominance and used tactics such as lynching, intimidation, and terrorist acts to suppress and control African Americans, deterring them from pursuing equal rights.

4. Lack of Political Representation: Freed people faced obstacles when it came to political participation and representation. Although the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments) granted them citizenship, equal protection, and voting rights, these guarantees were frequently undermined by discriminatory laws, literacy tests, poll taxes, and violence, thus limiting their ability to exercise political power.

5. Resurgence of White Power Structures: Over time, the consolidation of power by white landowners and former Confederates eroded the progress made during Reconstruction. These elites succeeded in regaining political control, rolling back reforms, and reinstituting a system of racial subjugation. Through measures like the Compromise of 1877, Southern Democrats achieved the removal of federal troops from the South, further solidifying their authority.

Addressing these barriers and achieving radical social change required continued advocacy, organization, and the collective efforts of individuals, civil rights organizations, and progressive allies. It took many years and a long struggle before significant progress could be achieved in advancing civil rights for African Americans.