De Facto Segregation: Definition and Examples in US History

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🏘️ De facto segregation arises from social, economic, or cultural factors, rather than explicit laws.
• 🤔 It is often unintentional, resulting from individual choices and societal patterns.
• 🏫 Examples include neighborhood housing patterns leading to racially imbalanced schools.
• ⚖️ Unlike de jure segregation (segregation by law), de facto segregation is harder to address legally because proving discriminatory intent is challenging.
• ⏳ Historically, even after de jure segregation ended, de facto segregation persisted in many areas of the U.S.
• 🌍 Factors like redlining, real estate practices, and income disparities contribute to its continuation.
• 💡 Understanding de facto segregation requires examining the complex interplay of individual decisions and systemic inequalities.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following BEST describes de facto segregation?
   1. Segregation enforced by law.
   2. Segregation resulting from social and economic factors.
   3. Segregation mandated by the federal government.
   4. Segregation only present in the Southern United States.
2. Which of the following is an example of de facto segregation?
   1. Laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
   2. A school system divided by race due to residential patterns.
   3. Separate waiting rooms for different races.
   4. Ordinances preventing minorities from owning property.
3. What is a key difference between de facto and de jure segregation?
   1. De facto segregation is easier to litigate than de jure segregation.
   2. De jure segregation is based on law, while de facto segregation is based on social factors.
   3. De facto segregation was only present before the Civil Rights Act.
   4. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
4. Which factor contributed MOST to the persistence of de facto segregation after de jure segregation was outlawed?
   1. Strict enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
   2. Racial quotas in housing and employment.
   3. Discriminatory housing practices and economic inequalities.
   4. A decline in immigration to the United States.
5. What is “redlining” and how does it relate to de facto segregation?
   1. A government program that promoted integrated neighborhoods.
   2. A discriminatory practice where banks refuse loans in minority neighborhoods.
   3. A legal requirement for racial quotas in housing developments.
   4. A system of public transportation that segregated riders by race.
6. Why is it often challenging to address de facto segregation legally?
   1. Because de facto segregation is protected by the Constitution.
   2. Because it is difficult to prove discriminatory intent.
   3. Because de facto segregation only exists in private institutions.
   4. Because there are no laws against de facto segregation.
7. Which of the following is a consequence of de facto segregation?
   1. Equal access to resources and opportunities for all groups.
   2. Racial and economic disparities in education, housing, and employment.
   3. Increased social cohesion and integration among different racial groups.
   4. A decrease in racial tensions and discrimination.