Answer:
Southern states passed several laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to impose segregation and deny African Americans their voting rights. These laws were collectively known as "Jim Crow laws" and were enforced until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the most significant laws that Southern states passed during this period include:
Poll taxes: These were taxes that individuals had to pay in order to vote. Because many African Americans were poor and could not afford to pay the tax, this effectively disenfranchised them.
Literacy tests: Southern states also required potential voters to pass a literacy test in order to vote. These tests were often rigged or unfair, and were used to prevent African Americans from voting.
Grandfather clauses: Some states passed laws that exempted individuals from the poll tax and literacy test requirements if their grandfathers had been eligible to vote. Since African Americans had been denied the right to vote for generations, they were unable to benefit from this clause.
Segregation laws: Southern states passed laws that required segregation in public places, such as schools, restaurants, and transportation. These laws were intended to keep African Americans separate from whites and maintain a system of racial hierarchy.
Anti-miscegenation laws: Some states passed laws that prohibited interracial marriage or sexual relations. These laws were often used to prevent African Americans from forming relationships with white individuals and were another way to enforce racial segregation.
These laws and practices were eventually challenged and overturned through the Civil Rights Movement, including court cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, the legacy of Jim Crow laws and segregation continues to impact American society today.