"Jim Crow" refers to a series of laws and practices that enforced racial segregation in the United States, primarily from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. These laws were named after a blackface character in a minstrel show and aimed to maintain white supremacy by restricting the rights of African Americans. They affected various aspects of life, including education, transportation, and public facilities. Under Jim Crow laws, African Americans faced discrimination and were often denied basic civil rights. The legal framework included measures like poll taxes, literacy tests, and separate but equal facilities, which were upheld by the Supreme Court in cases like Plessy v. Ferguson. The era of Jim Crow began to decline with the Civil Rights Movement, leading to significant legal changes in the 1960s.