Generally speaking, the popularity of the Gutenberg press in Europe made books more accessible and motivated people to want to learn how to "read", since far more books were being made which made them far cheaper.
The fight of disenfranchised or marginalized groups to regain their civil rights is generally referred to as a “civil rights struggle.” The use of the term is instructive as it indicates that although rights of citizenship, “inalienable rights,” are granted, for many they have to be wrested from society.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments focused on giving past slaves rights, particularly voting rights.
Jim Crow laws and Black Codes were ways the Southern states responded to these Amendments, as they wanted to keep their way of life intact. Jim Crow laws were meant to segregate blacks and whites from each other. They essentially made it easier for the South to continue to treat African Americans harshly. The Black Codes were harsher and made it so black people could be arrested for basically no reason and they could not leave their jobs, even if they wanted to.
Poll taxes and literacy tests were more ways the South state responded. Poll taxes were put on voting polls, in order to stop African Americans from voting. Black people during this time had a hard time getting a job and were paid less, so many could not afford to pay for polling. Literacy tests were also very harsh on African Americans. Since many, did not and could not receive a proper education, they would fail the literacy tests and not be able to vote.
True the federal government and the states have the power to construct roads