Overview
This lecture covers post-Civil War Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow laws, and the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld racial segregation.
Reconstruction and Amendments
- After the Civil War, the U.S. passed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to abolish slavery and guarantee equal rights and voting for black citizens.
- Resistance to racial equality, especially in the South, led to the decline of Reconstruction by the 1870s.
Jim Crow Era and Segregation
- Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws enforcing racial segregation, named after a minstrel show character.
- These laws mandated "separate but equal" facilities for black and white citizens.
Plessy v. Ferguson Case Background
- In 1892, Homer Plessy, who was 7/8 white and 1/8 black, was arrested in Louisiana for sitting in a whites-only railcar.
- State law required separate railway coaches for black and white passengers, with penalties for violations.
- Plessy argued he was white and challenged the law as unconstitutional, but state courts upheld his conviction.
Supreme Court Decision
- The U.S. Supreme Court reviewed whether Louisiana's segregation law violated the Constitution.
- Majority opinion held that the law did not violate the 14th Amendment, allowing "separate but equal" facilities.
- The Court said the law did not compromise political equality and was a legitimate use of state power if applied in good faith.
- The 13th Amendment was ruled irrelevant as the case didn't involve slavery.
Dissenting Opinion
- Justice Harlan dissented, arguing the law was discriminatory and violated the principle of a color-blind Constitution.
- Harlan believed the ruling would increase racial animosity and predicted its future reversal.
- Despite his progressive stance, Harlan did not support equal rights for all races, excluding the Chinese from citizenship.
Aftermath and Overturning
- Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation.
- The decision was overturned in 1954 by Brown v. Board of Education.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Reconstruction — Period after the Civil War focused on rebuilding and integrating formerly enslaved people into society.
- 13th Amendment — Abolished slavery in the United States.
- 14th Amendment — Guaranteed equal protection under the law.
- 15th Amendment — Granted voting rights regardless of race.
- Jim Crow laws — State and local statutes enforcing racial segregation.
- Separate but equal doctrine — Legal principle justifying racial segregation if facilities are "equal."
- Plessy v. Ferguson — 1896 Supreme Court case upholding segregation laws.
- Dissent — A judicial opinion disagreeing with the majority's decision.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education cases.
- Prepare for a discussion on the impact of the "separate but equal" doctrine.