The Jim Crow Laws

Flashcards about the Jim Crow Laws in American History

Jim Crow Laws

Racially discriminatory laws in the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that enforced racial segregation and inequality, mainly targeting African Americans and other minority groups.

Origin of 'Jim Crow' Term

A 19th-century entertainer character portraying a stereotypical, buffoonish black man, often performed by white actors in blackface. The term became synonymous with racial segregation and discrimination.

Post-Civil War Laws

Series of laws enacted by Southern states after the Civil War aimed at reasserting white supremacy and maintaining racial separation following the abolishment of slavery in 1865.

Marginalize

To minimize or render unimportant. The purpose of the Jim Crow Laws was to marginalize African Americans in all aspects of life, including education, transportation, and public facilities.

"Separate but Equal" System

A system where facilities for African Americans were legally mandated to be separate from those for white Americans. Facilities for African Americans were of very poor quality compared to those for the white Americans

Civil Rights Movement

The civil right movement challenged the law's legitimacy and demanded equal rights for all citizens, regardless of race. The Jim Crow Laws persisted for several decades, preserving racial segregation and inequality well into the mid-20th century.

Racism

The act of prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

Inequality

The state of being unequal; lack of equality. Jim Crow Laws were used to enforce racial inequality.

Segregation

The separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic groups by discriminatory means. To separate people on the basis of race.