How did congress try to counteract the Jim Crow Laws?
According to this site, Congress did much more to enforce Jim Crow laws than it did to counteract them.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/struggle_congress.html
thankyou Ms.Sue!!!!
You're welcome, Erin.
To understand how Congress tried to counteract Jim Crow Laws, we need to look at the historical context and legislative actions taken. Jim Crow Laws were a series of state and local laws in the United States enacted between the end of the Reconstruction era in 1877 and the mid-1960s. These laws enforced racial segregation and discrimination, primarily targeting African Americans.
1. Congressional Efforts:
a. Civil Rights Act of 1875: Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which aimed to ensure equal treatment in public accommodations and prohibited discrimination based on race, color, or prior enslavement. However, the Supreme Court declared significant parts of the Act unconstitutional in 1883, and it became largely ineffective.
b. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited racial discrimination in public places, employment, and education. It was a landmark legislation that aimed to end segregation and safeguard civil rights. The act also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to address employment discrimination.
c. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to counter institutionalized racial discrimination in voting practices that prevented African Americans from freely exercising their right to vote. It aimed to eliminate barriers such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and other restrictive measures.
2. Supreme Court Decisions:
Congress's efforts to counteract Jim Crow Laws were also supported and reinforced by several Supreme Court decisions. These decisions include:
a. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): In this landmark case, the Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Though this decision was not a direct action by Congress, it laid the groundwork for legislative efforts to combat racial inequality.
b. Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964): The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, using the Commerce Clause as justification. This decision reinforced Congress's legislative actions against racial discrimination.
It is important to note that countering Jim Crow Laws involved a combination of efforts by various branches of government, as well as widespread grassroots activism and civil rights movements led by individuals and organizations like the NAACP and other civil rights leaders. The actions of Congress were crucial, but they were part of a broader societal movement toward eliminating racial segregation and discrimination.