Conflict and justice after the American Civil War: Inclusion and exclusion in the reconstruction and Jim Crow eras

Abstract

After war, societies can undergo change that extends justice to formerly excluded groups. Using theories of moral exclusion and moral inclusion as a lens, this chapter examines societal change in two consecutive periods after the American Civil War (1861–1865): Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Focusing on the well being of black Americans in the American South, this chapter examines Reconstruction's inclusionary gains and setbacks. It then describes challenges faced by black Americans during Jim Crow, a period of white supremacy and violence, and factors associated with Jim Crow's decline. Applying social psychological theory to these historical periods offers insight into the dynamics of inclusionary and exclusionary change.

Citation

Opotow, S. (2008), "Conflict and justice after the American Civil War: Inclusion and exclusion in the reconstruction and Jim Crow eras", Hegtvedt, K.A. and Clay-Warner, J. (Ed.) Justice (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 25), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 55-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0882-6145(08)25007-1