Jim Crow laws

Definition

Jim Crow laws were a collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans, primarily in the Southern United States, from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. These laws institutionalized numerous economic, educational, and social disadvantages.

Related terms

Disenfranchisement: The removal of the right to vote from a person or group, often used to describe how African Americans were prevented from voting under Jim Crow laws.

Segregation: The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment, which was a fundamental aspect of Jim Crow laws.

Civil Rights Movement: A decades-long struggle by African Americans to end legalized racial discrimination, disenfranchisement, and racial segregation in the United States