Plessy v. Ferguson Case: Fighting for Segregation

 DEFENDING SEGREGATION THROUGH CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.

    In the aftermath of the Civil War and ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, the Souther states faced the challenge of  restructuring society. Because of this, the South decided to develop Black Codes and later the Jim Crow laws. These laws were a direct response to the abolition of slavery and aimed to regulate the lives of African Americans in the South.

    In Ferguson's case, it can be said that the purpose of these laws were not there to control where and how formerly enslaved people lived, but were made to provide a social framework that would prevent instability and conflict between the races. These laws are rooted in long-standing customs, traditions, and norms that have shaped the way society has functioned in the South for generations.

BLACK CODES AND THE ORIGINS OF JIM CROW.

    The Black Codes were strict local and state laws that detailed the limitations placed on African Americans. They were designed to keep African Americans in a position similar to slavery by regulating their work conditions, wages, and movement. Over time, these Black Codes evolved into what we know as Jim Crow Laws. 

    In the South, these laws were especially stringent, reinforcing a system of racial segregation and white supremacy by keeping African Americans in subordinate positions. For example, African Americans were often place in a state of indenture servitude, stripped of their voting rights, and were being controlled in nearly every aspect of their lives. 

    While the North practiced segregation, the implementation of Jim Crow laws were not as intense as the South. Northern states had certain requirements, such as property ownership for African Americans before they could vote, schools and neighborhoods being segregated, and many businesses maintaining "white-only" policies. Although Black Codes were not as restrictive as it was in the South, there was still a reflection of widespread acceptance of racial segregation as a social norm. 

THE LEGAL ENDORSEMENT OF SEGREGATION.

    When it comes to Plessy v. Ferguson, we see that the Court rules in favor of segregation, upholding the principle of Separate but Equal. According to this ruling, "The doctrine held that so long segregation laws affected White and Black people equally, those laws did not violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." 

    The decision made it clean that the protections of the 14th Amendment applied only to political and civil rights, but did not extend to social rights.

CONCLUSION.

    The defense of both segregation, as supported by the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling was deeply rooted in customs, traditions, and norms of American society. The Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and the Supreme Court's endorsement of "Separate But equal" were all attempts to preserve a social structure that was seen as necessary for maintaining order and stability between Black and White communities. 

    While the laws may appear as discriminatory to some, they were designed to reflect social realities of the time and ensure that different races could coexist without conflict.