The Jim Crow era in the United States refers to the period of racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans, primarily in the South, enforced through laws and customs. It lasted from the late 19th century, following Reconstruction (1877), to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
Key milestones marking the era include:
- Beginning: Around the 1880s, as states began passing segregation laws.
- End: Officially ended with the passage of federal civil rights legislation, such as:
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (outlawing segregation and discrimination).
- The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (addressing disenfranchisement).
This period is marked by systemic discrimination, violence, and denial of rights to African Americans, despite constitutional amendments intended to guarantee their freedom and equality.