How did African Americans in the post-Civil War era respond to the hostile environment of the South?

The African Americans in the post-civil war era responded to the hostile environment of the south by confiscating land on abandoned plantations.

Explanation:

After the Civil War was over, certain amendments were made to the Constitution which then allowed the freed slaves from the southern states to acquire the abandoned plantation lands of the former owners. This right that was given by the Constitution was used by many slaves to confiscate lands of the former owners.

powerful warriors rose to become chiefs, who had a privileged place in society.

c. government control over the unsettled western lands