Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Segregation refers to the enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups, often resulting in unequal treatment and limited opportunities for marginalized communities.
Related terms
Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the United States, particularly in the South.
The Civil Rights Movement was a social and political movement aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
Brown v. Board of Education: This landmark Supreme Court case declared that racially segregated public schools were unconstitutional, challenging the legal basis for segregation.