Dan Snow's History Hit
The Origins of Jim Crow
Mar 12, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Aaron Sheehan-Dean, a Professor of Southern Studies at Louisiana State University, sheds light on the grim origins of Jim Crow laws. He explains how attempts to create a multiracial democracy post-Civil War unraveled, leading to the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans. The conversation dives into the paradoxical relationship between technology and oppression, the pivotal Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson, and the intricate social and legal frameworks that enforced racial segregation in the South.
35:36
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Quick takeaways
- Post-Civil War attempts at establishing a multiracial democracy faltered, leading to the institutionalization of the oppressive Jim Crow laws.
- The introduction of poll taxes and literacy tests significantly disenfranchised Black voters, cementing racial segregation in Southern politics.
Deep dives
The Impact of Poll Taxes and Literacy Tests
Poll taxes and literacy tests were instrumental in disenfranchising Black voters in the Southern United States after the Civil War. These measures, introduced in Southern states like Georgia as early as 1877, significantly reduced Black voter turnout, with a notable 50% decrease observed in Georgia alone. Such laws required prospective voters to pay a fee or demonstrate literacy skills, which were often discriminatorily administered by white clerks, effectively cutting off access to the electoral process for many Black individuals. This systemic exclusion was part of a broader strategy to maintain white supremacy and social control during the Jim Crow era.
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