Racial segregation in the United States was a dark period in American history that enforced separation between white and Black Americans. The era of Jim Crow laws began in the late 1800s after the Civil War and Reconstruction period ended, creating a system of legal discrimination that would last for nearly 100 years.
During this time, segregation affected every aspect of daily life. Black Americans were forced to use separate facilities, including schools, restaurants, water fountains, and public transportation. The doctrine of "separate but equal" established by the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case in 1896 gave legal backing to these discriminatory practices. School segregation USA became particularly damaging, as Black students were forced to attend underfunded schools with fewer resources. The Jim Crow era also saw widespread voter suppression through literacy tests and poll taxes designed to prevent Black citizens from exercising their right to vote.
The Civil Rights Movement emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a powerful response to fight against these injustices. Led by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the movement achieved several major victories through peaceful protests, boycotts, and legal challenges. Key Civil Rights Movement achievements included the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which officially ended legal segregation in public places. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 followed, protecting Black Americans' right to vote. While the Civil Rights Movement timeline shows significant progress was made during this period, the effects of segregation continued to impact American society long after these laws were passed, and the struggle for true equality remains ongoing.
