The abolition of slavery did not improve the situation of black Americans as much as some people had hoped.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] They were a way of stopping ex-slaves having their rights in the South.
2. [1] They were an attempt by white Americans in the South to keep their power.
3. [1] They meant that black Americans would be arrested, beaten and given forced labour if they broke their labour contracts.
4. [1] They were designed to deprive black Americans from being able to vote.
5. [1] They were designed to maintain white supremacy.
6. [1] They limited the kinds of jobs black Americans could have.
7. [1] They led to racial segregation.
8. [1] They were introduced after the Civil War by many southern states.
9. [1] There was a lot of pressure on him from radical Republicans.
10. [1] To strengthen the Union army.
11. [1] To make the war against the Confederacy a moral one.
12. [1] It discouraged countries like Britain and France from supporting the South.
13. [4-5] Explanation: Lincoln believed making abolition a war aim would weaken the Confederacy and strengthen the Union by allowing black Americans to enlist. This also deterred Britain and France from supporting the South, as it would appear they supported slavery.
14. [1] There were no more slaves.
15. [1] Some ex-slaves became share-croppers.
16. [1] The military rule installed over some states did change the lives of people.
17. [1] Cotton plantations remained the chief source of work.
18. [1] Some black Americans were involved in politics.
19. [1] The Black Codes made sure that black Americans' lives did not change much.
20. [1] There was still a lot of racial discrimination.
21. [1] The South remained poor.
22. [4-6] Argument for little change: The South remained primarily agricultural with a one-crop economy, poorer than the North. Many plantations survived, and black Americans still performed hard labor as sharecroppers, often struggling. Discrimination and attacks from groups like the Ku Klux Klan persisted.
23. [4-6] Argument for significant change: Slavery was abolished, freeing ex-slaves who then worked for wages or as sharecroppers with some independence. Black Americans became involved in politics in some southern states, even holding office, and many children received education.