The correct answer is B) "Jim Crow laws," discrimination, and segregation in the South.
<em>The statement that best exemplifies the push factor for the thousands of African Americans who moved to the North and West during Reconstruction is "Jim Crow laws, discrimination, and segregation in the South.</em>
The Jim Crow laws in the Southern states enforced race segregation. They were the product of decisions of white Democrats and were official until 1965. So during Reconstruction, African Americans suffered from race discrimination, lack of civil rights, and decent jobs in the South. That is why their best choice was to move up North or to the Western states.
The other options of the question were A) better housing and living conditions in the North and West, C) increased personal freedom and privileges in the North and West, and D) better job opportunities and higher wages in the North and West.
