How and why did legally sanctioned segregation emerge in the south why did the segregationist regime endure for so long?

Answer 1

Legally sanctioned segregation emerged in the South after the Civil War, particularly through Jim Crow laws enacted in the late 19th century, which institutionalized racial discrimination and disenfranchised Black Americans. The regime endured for so long due to a combination of social, economic, and political factors, including widespread racism, the economic dependence of the South on a racially stratified labor system, and the lack of federal enforcement of civil rights protections. Additionally, white supremacy was reinforced through violence and intimidation by groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which maintained control over Black communities. The Civil Rights Movement in the mid-20th century ultimately challenged this enduring system, leading to its gradual dismantling.