how did the Civil War Amendments have the opposite effect than what they were made to do? how did they make way for the Jim Crow laws?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Amendments
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/civil_war_amendments.htm
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The Civil War Amendments, which include the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution, were intended to provide equal rights and protections for African Americans after the abolition of slavery. However, these amendments did not have the intended effect and eventually led to the development of Jim Crow laws.
To understand how this happened, let's break it down:
1. Thirteenth Amendment (1865): The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. While this amendment ended the institution of slavery, it did not guarantee equal rights or protections for freed slaves.
2. Fourteenth Amendment (1868): The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and it provided equal protection of the laws. It aimed to ensure civil rights for African Americans and protect them from discriminatory state laws. However, its enforcement was limited, and some states found ways to circumvent its provisions.
3. Fifteenth Amendment (1870): The 15th Amendment prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was intended to secure voting rights, primarily for African American men. Despite this amendment, voter suppression tactics such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and violent intimidation were employed to prevent African Americans from voting.
So, how did these amendments lead to the development of Jim Crow laws?
1. Resistance from Southern states: Many Southern states were opposed to granting equal rights to African Americans. They resented the federal government's intervention and sought ways to regain control over the African American population.
2. Legal loopholes and state laws: States began enacting Jim Crow laws, which were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination. These laws were designed to create a separate but unequal society, denying African Americans basic rights and opportunities. State legislatures exploited legal loopholes in the efforts to maintain racial hierarchy.
3. Supreme Court decisions: The Supreme Court, through several key decisions, weakened the protection provided by the 14th and 15th Amendments. For example, the Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that "separate but equal" facilities were constitutional, allowing for widespread segregation.
In summary, the Civil War Amendments did provide a legal framework for equality and rights, but their enforcement and interpretation were hindered by resistance from Southern states, state laws, and Supreme Court decisions that legitimized segregation. These factors ultimately led to the development of Jim Crow laws, which perpetuated racial discrimination and inequality.