Segregation & Desegregation

With roots in the founding fathers' failure to include African Americans and Native Americans as full people in the U.S. Constitution, segregation became inshrined in society and law very early in the history of the United States. Free blacks still lived as second class citizens, with their movements restricted in public accommodations, education, and voting. The enslaved, of course, felt the brunt of society's segregation in all aspects of their lives. Even after the end of slavery, the fate of African Americans was gradually turned over to individual states, many of which adopted restrictive laws that enforced segregation based on race and imposed measures aimed at keeping African Americans from being equal citizens in society.

Explore articles on segregation and desegregation below. For a more in-depth exploration of this issue, visit the NPS Segregation & Desegregation website.