Historian A: Eric Foner – Social Perspective "Eric Foner argues that Jim Crow Laws were primarily a tool of social control used by white elites to maintain racial segregation and suppress African American civil rights after Reconstruction. He emphasizes how these laws institutionalized racial discrimination, perpetuating inequality and social division. Foner highlights that Jim Crow laws affected every aspect of daily life for African Americans, reinforcing a racial hierarchy that persisted for decades. His view underscores the social and cultural impact of segregation on African American communities and their ongoing struggle for equality."

Historian B: C. Vann Woodward – Political/Economic Perspective "C. Vann Woodward contends that Jim Crow Laws were largely a political strategy designed to restore white supremacy and economic dominance following Reconstruction. He suggests these laws were implemented as part of a broader effort to disenfranchise Black voters and weaken political gains made during Reconstruction. Woodward emphasizes the economic motivations behind segregation, arguing that Jim Crow helped preserve the economic advantages of white landowners and business interests. His perspective focuses on the political and economic functions of Jim Crow laws in maintaining the existing power structures."