Discuss the case of arbitrary law which was one of the major themes of protest in the US until1960s. (3)

The theme of arbitrary law was indeed a major point of contention and protest in the United States up until the 1960s.

1. Definition and Context: Arbitrary law refers to a legal system where decisions are made based on the individual's discretion, rather than a set of established legal principles. In the context of the United States, this was often seen in the form of discriminatory laws and practices, particularly against racial and ethnic minorities.

2. Jim Crow Laws: One of the most prominent examples of arbitrary law were the Jim Crow laws, a collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation. Named after a black minstrel show character, the laws existed for about 100 years, from the post-Civil War era until 1968. These laws were arbitrary as they were based on the color of a person's skin and not on any legal principle.

3. Civil Rights Movement: The arbitrary nature of these laws was one of the major themes of protest during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Activists like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks fought against these laws, advocating for equal rights and protections under the law for all citizens, regardless of race. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were landmark legislations that marked the end of legally sanctioned arbitrary laws.

In conclusion, the case of arbitrary law was a significant issue in the United States until the 1960s, leading to widespread protests and eventually, significant legal and societal changes.