In 1870 and 1871, Congress passed three laws to combat violence against African Americans. These were known as the Enforcement Acts. They made it illegal to prevent another person from voting by bribery, force, or scare tactics. President Grant sent troop to the South to enforce these laws. Hundreds of people were arrested for violence against blacks but those who were brought to trial were hardly ever convicted. Few witnesses and jurors wanted to risk the Klan's revenge by speaking against one of its members.
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