This amendment was brought about following the civil war in an attempt to end the injustices that were being dealt to the African Americans in many states. Many blacks in America at the time were being treated as inferior by the white community and since they were not viewed as citizens by some states, they had no rights to justice. During that period some states had also adopted Jim Crow laws which subjected black residents to additional oppression. One prime example of this injustice could be seen in Memphis on 30 April 1866, when some black soldiers who were celebrating the end of their military service were met with opposition from some whites which led to a breakout of violence. During the violent outbreak, dozens of blacks were killed
