The South was a complete disaster after the Civil War. The early 20th century brought many changes for African Americans. It was difficult to help newly freed African American slaves assimilate with their white counterparts. They suffered from poor harvests, economic difficulties and the early failures of reconstruction in the south. As a result, many African Americans from the South migrated to northern cities in search of jobs and a chance at a better life. However, African Americans from the South migrating to Northern cities quickly discovered that they could not enjoy the same social and economic mobility that their European immigrant counterparts who arrived around the same time had demonstrated. There were many questions that needed to be asked and answered not only among politicians, but also among the white and black populations as a whole. Booker T. Washington, WEB Du Bois, and John Hope all attempted to address these difficult issues by drawing on their own experience and cultural influences by sharing their opinions. A well-respected African-American leader named Booker T. Washington gave a speech that would later be published. named the “Atlanta Compromise” at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta on September 18, 1895 (Biography by Booker T. Washington). Booker T. Washington was born into slavery and would eventually gain his freedom after the end of the Civil War. He was biracial, but never knew who his white father was (Biography by Booker T. Washington). His speech on the "Atlanta Compromise" was very controversial within the African-American community. This speech was controversial, as Washington essentially told African Americans to "work within the system" and "try to get along" with whites (43-45). It was a deal...... middle of paper .......d. Internet. February 14, 2014. .Duwood, WEB "On Mr. Booker T. Washington and others." Np: np, sd 94-107. The souls of black people. Internet. February 16, 2014. < https://courses.cscc.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4761040-dt-content-rid-25273687_1/courses/HIST-1152-600-62052-SP-2014/WEB DuBois.pdf> Hope, John. “A Critique of the Atlanta Compromise.” For the record. 5th ed. Vol 2. New York and London: Norton & nd 46-47. Print."Biography of John Hope." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. February 16, 2014..Washington, Booker T. “The Atlanta Compromise.” For the record. 5th ed. Vol 2. New York and London: Norton & nd 43-45. Print."WEB Du Bois Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. February 15. 2014..