Which term refers to the practice of segregation by law?

Which term refers to the practice of segregation by law?

• A. Jim Crow
• B. Racism
• C. Plessy v. Ferguson
• D. Annexation

Answer: (A)

Jim Crow refers to the system of racial segregation that was codified into law in the United States, especially in the South, from the late 19th century well into the mid-20th century. It mandated separate facilities and services for Black and white people—things like schools, transportation, restrooms, and waiting areas—and often included voting restrictions to keep Black citizens from participating in elections. This legal framework was reinforced by the Supreme Court’s Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld the constitutionality of “separate but equal” facilities and gave formal backing to de jure segregation. The other options don’t fit as neatly: racism describes prejudiced beliefs, not the formal system of laws; annexation is about acquiring territory; Plessy v. Ferguson is the court ruling that legitimized the practice, not the practice itself.

Jim Crow refers to the system of racial segregation that was codified into law in the United States, especially in the South, from the late 19th century well into the mid-20th century. It mandated separate facilities and services for Black and white people—things like schools, transportation, restrooms, and waiting areas—and often included voting restrictions to keep Black citizens from participating in elections. This legal framework was reinforced by the Supreme Court’s Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which upheld the constitutionality of “separate but equal” facilities and gave formal backing to de jure segregation. The other options don’t fit as neatly: racism describes prejudiced beliefs, not the formal system of laws; annexation is about acquiring territory; Plessy v. Ferguson is the court ruling that legitimized the practice, not the practice itself.