<human>: How did the Civil War change the lives of African Americans?
<bot>: The Civil War had a profound effect on African Americans, both during and after the war. During the war, slavery was abolished in the United States, which meant that African Americans were no longer forced to work for their owners. After the war, many African Americans moved from rural areas to cities, where they could find better jobs and more opportunities. This allowed them to move up the social ladder and gain access to higher education and other forms of upward mobility. However, racism still persisted, and discrimination and segregation continued into the 20th century.