After the American Revolution, most northern states began to end slavery. Some ended it right away, but many used gradual plans. By the 1830s, slavery had been almost fully abolished in the North. Legal freedom did not mean equal treatment. African Americans still lived with strict rules, unfair laws, and daily prejudice.
Many northern states passed laws that limited basic rights. Some states made free black people pay a large bond to enter. Some barred them from voting, serving on juries, or joining the militia. Several states blocked black testimony in court cases that involved white people. In places like Ohio and Indiana, officials tried to keep black residents from moving in at all. Even where laws allowed certain rights, local custom often took them away in practice.
Segregation shaped daily life. In many towns and cities, African Americans were pushed out of skilled jobs and public spaces. Schooling was separate and unequal. Black children often went to crowded classrooms in churches or private rooms. They could not attend white schools. Public transportation, theaters, and even some churches kept Black people out or set them apart. These rules sent a clear message that Black residents were not welcome as equals.
Violence was another threat. In the 1820s and 1830s, white mobs in cities such as Cincinnati and Philadelphia attacked Black homes, churches, and businesses. During the New York City draft riot in 1863, angry crowds killed Black residents and burned an orphanage. Many officials failed to protect Black communities, and some even blamed them for the trouble. Fear also grew because of the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850. These laws made it easier to seize people accused of being runaways. Even free Black people could be kidnapped and carried south, with little chance to prove their free status.
Northern attitudes toward slavery shaped these actions. Many white Northerners disliked slavery, yet also opposed full rights for black neighbors. They feared job competition and clung to racist beliefs that had grown during the age of slavery. At the same time, African Americans built strong institutions. They founded churches, schools, and mutual aid groups. They started newspapers and spoke out for freedom and equal rights. Their work showed courage and helped push the nation toward a wider idea of liberty, even in places where freedom was limited.
