Civil Rights IntroA Legal Background

Reconstruction Amendments

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery14th: gave Blacks and Whites equal rights;

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery14th: gave Blacks and Whites equal rights; did not allow states

to limit Blacks’ rights

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery14th: gave Blacks and Whites equal rights; did not allow states

to limit Blacks’ rights

Check your pocket Constitution– what’s the difference between the 5th and 14th Amendments?

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery14th: gave Blacks and Whites equal rights; did not allow states

to limit Blacks’ rights15th: gave Blacks the right to vote

Reconstruction AmendmentsPassed soon after the Civil War to give rights to Blacks

13th: ended slavery14th: gave Blacks and Whites equal rights; did not allow states

to limit Blacks’ rights15th: gave Blacks the right to vote

Check the wording. Who, exactly, received the right to vote?

Jim Crow LawsDespite the 14th Amendment, many states passed laws to

segregate the races

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Homer Plessy sued, claiming that separating races on trains

violates 14th Amendment

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Homer Plessy sued, claiming that separating races on trains

violates 14th Amendment

How do you think the Supreme Court ruled?

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Homer Plessy sued, claiming that separating races on trains

violates 14th Amendment

Supreme Court ruled against him, saying that facilities could be “separate but equal” for the races

Constitutional!

Constitutional!

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Homer Plessy sued, claiming that separating races on trains

violates 14th Amendment

Supreme Court ruled against him, saying that facilities could be “separate but equal” for the races

This decision makes Jim Crow laws constitutional in the eyes of the Court

Jim CrowNot a real person!

Jim CrowNot a real person!

Jim CrowNot a real person!

The name comes from a character played by whites that ridiculed Blacks

Jim CrowNot a real person!

The name comes from a character played by whites that ridiculed Blacks

Jim CrowNot a real person!

The name comes from a character played by whites that ridiculed Blacks

The name came to represent the legal system of discrimination against Blacks

Jim CrowNot a real person!

The name comes from a character played by whites that ridiculed Blacks

The name came to represent the legal system of discrimination against Blacks

The Civil Rights Movement was the age of trying to undo “separate but equal” and Jim Crow