Final answer:
Lynching was a form of institutional racism that occurred primarily in the Southern states during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Victims were often scapegoats for societal frustrations and personal failures, rather than being guilty of any crime. Attempts to pass federal anti-lynching laws were met with opposition from white Southern politicians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lynching was a form of institutional racism that occurred primarily in the Southern states during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It involved the extrajudicial killing of African Americans, often as a means to maintain white supremacy and enforce racial codes. Lynching was not limited to the South and occurred in other parts of the country as well, although it was less common in cities with sizable black communities. Victims of lynching were often scapegoats for societal frustrations and personal failures, rather than being guilty of any crime. Attempts to pass federal anti-lynching laws were met with opposition from white Southern politicians.