During the last quarter of the century before 1900, a great movement in American society was taking place. Cities were becoming populated, cultural changes were occurring and the beginnings of new social thought and reform were being awakened. Against this background of change, the Jim Crow "laws" were firmly in place in the South which continued to abuse and discriminate against those freed slaves, now American citizens, but clearly without rights or dignity. Discuss this time in US history. 250 words. At least 1 reference. .