Jim Crow Laws

During the post-Civil War era, the debate over the freed slaves was at its peak. While positive turning points occurred, like the Plessy vs. Ferguson case, negative laws were being passed, as well. The "Jim Crow" laws were being used as moral guidelines for the freedmen to follow. These events affected the reconstruction of the United States.

The "Jim Crow" laws discriminated against the blacks with concern to attendance in public schools, restaurants, theaters, hotels, cinemas, public baths, and segregation in trains, buses, and marriage between whites and blacks. These laws set a precedent for the United States to follow when setting boundaries for the recently freed blacks. However, these laws negatively impacted the blacks, because every time they would try to gain more freedom, or rights, the whites could look in the set of Jim Crow laws and find a way to disenable the blacks from having virtually any freedom.

There were various plans for reconstruction, like permitting only white people to vote for convention delegates or to participate in the framing of the new state governments. These reconstruction plans also included free public education schoolhouses, although they excluded black children. The Fourteenth Amendment was passed, and a new Congress hostile to the South was elected. This Congress took control of Reconstruction. When President Johnson vetoed its Reconstruction legislation, Congress overrode his vetoes, which led to his impeachment.

The Supreme Court Decision of Plessy vs. Ferguson was so important because it set the example that separate facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were equal. This doctrine was put into effect.

The time of reconstruction was very debatable and affected many people. Between the laws, cases, and other events that were occurring, many changes were being made to the country.

The blacks were taking a stand and rising in an attempt to join the whites as one nation.