The History of Jim Crow

It is important to understand that the Civil Rights Movement started way before the 1960's.  After the end of the Civl War, the United States entered a time of "Reconstruction."  During this time, the south created what were known as Jim Crow Laws.  The Jim Crow south segregated African Americans from the rest of society.  This website is a great summary of what Jim Crow was all about, including essays that explain how the Jim Crow laws led up to the actual movement of the 1960's. 

**Pay attention to the essay included in From Terror to Triumph: Historical Overview