Which laws enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States from 1876 to 1965?

• A. Jim Crow Laws
• B. Black Codes
• C. Reconstruction Acts
• D. Civil Rights Acts

Answer: (A)

The Jim Crow Laws were a series of state and local statutes that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States from the late 19th century until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. These laws systematically denied African Americans their civil rights and enforced a strict social order based on racial discrimination. They affected various aspects of life, including education, transportation, and public accommodations, compelling separate facilities for white and black citizens.

While Black Codes were introduced immediately after the Civil War and aimed to control the labor and behavior of freed African Americans, they were more about limiting rights rather than instituting widespread segregation policies, which became fully realized with the Jim Crow Laws. The Reconstruction Acts, on the other hand, were designed to rebuild and integrate the Southern states into the Union after the Civil War, rather than enforce segregation. Lastly, the Civil Rights Acts refer to legislation passed to prevent discrimination and promote equality; therefore, they stand in direct opposition to the principles of the Jim Crow Laws.

Thus, Jim Crow Laws are the correct answer as they are explicitly tied to the enforcement of racial segregation during the specified period.