1890

1899

In Cumming v. Richmond Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528 (1899), the Supreme Court upholds a local school board’s decision to close a free public black school due to fiscal constraints, despite the fact that the district continues to operate two free public white schools. Justice Harlan’s opinion argues that there is no evidence in the record that the decision was based on racial discrimination, and that the distribution of public funds for free public education was within the discretion of school authorities.

1898

The United States enters the Spanish-American War, acquiring Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Arguments for the war repeatedly allude to the “inferior” races in the Spanish-held colonies.

States along the eastern seaboard begin to pass statutes requiring segregation in places of public accommodation. Ordinances segregating streetcars sweep the South from 1900 to 1906.

1896

In Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), the Supreme Court holds that separate but equal facilities for white and black railroad passengers do not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Brown’s majority opinion explains that the purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment is not to enforce social equality as compared to political equality or to achieve a “commingling of the two races upon terms unsatisfactory to either.” Justice Harlan is the lone dissenter, arguing that forced segregation of the races stamps blacks with a badge of inferiority.

1892

Grover Cleveland is once again elected President. Democrats now control both the White House and Congress for the first time since before the Civil War. Democrats repeal several of the remaining provisions of the Ku Klux Klan Acts of 1870 and 1871 that regulate the intimidation and harassment of voters.

1890

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, the number of lynchings rises precipitously. The victims are overwhelmingly black. Approximately 49 lynchings are reported in 1882; 70 in 1887; 161 in 1892; and 106 in 1900. Between 1889 and 1918, 3,224 people are murdered as the result of lynchings. Fewer than 30% of the victims of lynchings are ever formally charged with a crime.

1890

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, the number of lynchings rises precipitously. The victims are overwhelmingly black. Approximately 49 lynchings are reported in 1882; 70 in 1887; 161 in 1892; and 106 in 1900. Between 1889 and 1918, 3,224 people are murdered as the result of lynchings. Fewer than 30% of the victims of lynchings are ever formally charged with a crime.

Grover Cleveland is once again elected President. Democrats now control both the White House and Congress for the first time since before the Civil War. Democrats repeal several of the remaining provisions of the Ku Klux Klan Acts of 1870 and 1871 that regulate the intimidation and harassment of voters.

In Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), the Supreme Court holds that separate but equal facilities for white and black railroad passengers do not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Brown’s majority opinion explains that the purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment is not to enforce social equality as compared to political equality or to achieve a “commingling of the two races upon terms unsatisfactory to either.” Justice Harlan is the lone dissenter, arguing that forced segregation of the races stamps blacks with a badge of inferiority.

The United States enters the Spanish-American War, acquiring Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Arguments for the war repeatedly allude to the “inferior” races in the Spanish-held colonies.

States along the eastern seaboard begin to pass statutes requiring segregation in places of public accommodation. Ordinances segregating streetcars sweep the South from 1900 to 1906.

In Cumming v. Richmond Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528 (1899), the Supreme Court upholds a local school board’s decision to close a free public black school due to fiscal constraints, despite the fact that the district continues to operate two free public white schools. Justice Harlan’s opinion argues that there is no evidence in the record that the decision was based on racial discrimination, and that the distribution of public funds for free public education was within the discretion of school authorities.

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