1900-1920s African Americans Flashcards
When were the first and second great migrations?
First Great Migration 1910-40 – African Americans moved from Southern states to cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Washington DC.
Second Great Migration 1940-70 – migration towards North East. Newark NK’s black population hit 54% by 1970.
What resulted from reduced European immigration?
Between 1910-20 European immigration declined inspiring 500,000 to move North during this time. NYC and Philadelphia were large targets for migration, with Philadelphia black population rising by 500%. Harlem in NYC housed 200,000 African Americans.
When did the US enter war and what acts were passed? What actions showed Wilson to be racist?
In 1917 the US entered war and wages rose by 25% due to booms in food, arms, and ammunition. The Espionage Act limited criticism of government and the Selective Service Act conscripted 4 million. Wilson was a white supremacist and resisted welcoming black people into civil service. Regiments were segregated and black people were removed from government. In France African Americans were treated better and became more demanding of their rights.
How did state governments encourage migration elsewhere?
During the Reconstruction era, sharecropping became common and many former slaves ended up in debt and not earning enough. Racism in the South pushed African Americans north, alongside the 1915 floods in Alabama and Mississippi which ruined farmland. 1916-20 half a million African Americans leave South.
How were African Americans economically limited?
Wage gap was found with stationary engineers earning $2 compared to white engineers who earned $3-4.50. In trade unions only 40,000 of 1,200,000 members were African American as unions barred African Americans.
What were post-war tensions?
Tensions after war: White people hostile and violent on return from war as jobs threatened, saw black people gaining voting rights and entering city councils, suspicions towards European-Americans with German business boycotted. In summer 1919 at Chicago black population hit 50,000. When a black boy ended up on a white beach he was stoned to death leading to 13 days of rioting, Irish and Polish workers attacked ghettoes killing 23 black people. (Chicago Race Riots)
Outline Marcus Garvey’s career.
Set up the UNIA, Universal Negro Improvement Association, in Jamaica 1912. Moved to US in 1916 and raised funds through the Black Star Line which he intended to trade with Africans worldwide. Was a believer in pan-Africanism and a separate African State. He set up the Negro Factories Corporation to promote manufacture/trade amongst African Americans and claimed the UNIA had 4 million members. Garvey was criticised by Du Bois who wanted African Americans to integrate.
What was Garvey’s impact?
Impact: he set precedent for Black Power, but as he was arrested for fraud and returned to Jamaica he is often seen as an isolated figure, claimed God and Jesus were black and set himself up as president of the Republic of Africa, collected $10 million and attracted support, economic ventures failed but he showed effective organisation.
When was the KKK revived?
The Klan was revived in 1915 with the film Birth of a Nation written, portraying the Klan as part of a heroic struggle against Northern domination and black control. William Joseph Simmons in Georgia revived the Klan.
Why did the KKK decline in the 1920s?
Their enemies included African Americans, Jews, Catholics, and those opposed to prohibition. Wider target group meant that racial hostility declined. Racial attacks continued, such as in 1927 where there were several attacks. Klan membership fell from 4 million in 1920 to 30,000 by 1930.
When was the NAACP formed and what were aims?
Formed after the Niagara Movement in 1909 by WEB Du Bois, Ida B Wells, and white reformers. Du Bois only senior black committee member. Aims included suffrage rights, equal justice, better education, equality before law, and employment opportunities. For African Americans as opposed to by them, dominated by Jewish white liberals.
What were actions of the NAACP?
Opposed Wilson’s segregation of federal government and campaigned for black officers in WWI as well as marching against the film Birth of a Nation and protesting the 1917 race riots in St Louis. By 1915 only had 6000 members, but used middle class membership to challenge segregation such as in 1917 when the South made moves to segregate African Americans into districts.
