Jim Crow laws were passed starting in the late 1870s through the 1880s, continuing into the early 20th century. They originated after the end of Reconstruction in 1877 when Southern state legislatures regained control and began enacting laws mandating racial segregation and reestablishing white supremacy. By the late 19th century, many Southern states had passed laws requiring segregation in public facilities, transportation, schools, and other public places. These laws were upheld legally by the 1896 Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, which established the "separate but equal" doctrine. The Jim Crow era persisted until the mid-20th century, with most such laws being struck down during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. In summary:
- Jim Crow laws began to be passed mainly from the late 1870s (post-Reconstruction).
- Many laws were enacted through the 1880s and early 1900s.
- The "separate but equal" doctrine supporting Jim Crow was established by the Supreme Court in 1896.
- The Jim Crow system lasted until the 1950s-1960s civil rights reforms dismantled it.
