1929-1945 Flashcards
What was the position of black Americans in the south?
> Jim Crow laws segregated lack people by law in schools,parks, restaurants swimming pools libraries and on public transport
> black people prevented from voting by literacy it means tests or simply fear
What were the negative impacts of the Great Depression?
> first fired, last hired
> by 1932 1/3 of black American males were unemployed
> 2 million black sharecroppers were pushed off their land
> in the north unemployment amongst blacks was 60%
> in the south blacks were 3x as likely to claim relief as whites
What were the positives of the New Deal on black Americans?
> New Deal did not provide radical change for black Americans but did bring about some change to economic conditions
> provided employment for 1 million and training for another 500,000
> PWA allocated funds for the building of black schools and hospitals
> FERA provides relief for 30% of black American families
> the amount of black Americans employed by the government rose from 50,000 1933 to 200,000 1945
Describe the KKK.
> founded in 1860s after the civil war, was an organisation that believed in white supremacy
> anti-communist, anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic and had to be WASPs
> wore white gowns and hoods to symbolise their white purity and supremacy but also to conceal their identity
> they used fear and terror to anyone who supported equality with beatings castration feather and tar and lynching, their mark was a burning cross
> the klan was strong in the south and in the 1920s reached about 6 million members however declined after a scandal with the leader
> had a powerful hold over many southern states with many lawyers policemen and judges belonging to the klan
- congressmen worried they wouldn’t be elected if they weren’t pro-clan
What were the roles of the NAACP?
> formed in 1909 by William DuBois, became active in fighting racial injustice mostly through the legal system
> main opponent to KKK and lynching
> put pressure on Roosevelt during WW2 to secure equality in war related industry and federal employment
> employed black lawyer Thurgood Marshal to fight inequality in education
- secured equal salaries for teachers
> through pressure on Supreme Court, it was ruled that blacks deserve equal quality of graduate education
How black Americans contribute to fighting?
> when America joined the war in 1941 many black Americans were conscripted but were forced to fight in segregated units
> did not see combat until the formation of the 332nd fighter group known as the ‘Tuskgee Airmen’
- by end of war there were 1000 black American pilots
> the first combat seen by black Americans was the 761st Tank Battalion nicknamed the black panthers, who fought in the battle of the bulge in France and Belgium in 1944
> in 1948 as a direct consequence of the contribution of black Americans Truman banned ‘separate but equal’ in recruitment training and service in the army airforce and marine Corps
> turning point for civil rights as was first time segregation had been declared wrong
Describe civil rights on the home front.
> in 1941, fearing race riots Roosevelt set up the fair employment practices committee which banned discrimination in factories that produced war goods
- important in the campaign for victory
> by 1944 nearly 4 million were working in war factories
> ‘double V’ campaign was created by Randolph and wanted victory over Facism abroad and against discrimination on the home front
> membership of the NAACP rose from 50,000 to 450,000 during the war
How did the war help civil rights?
> black and white Americans could see the irony of fighting facism when they themselves had a culture of racism
- shamed America
NAACP membership rose because:
> black soldiers felt that if they were wiling to die for their country they should be equal and have equal rights
> black soldiers saw a life in Britain that was not segregated
> they had made an important contribution to the war effort and wanted to be rewarded for loyalty
Describe the effect of the fair deal on civil rights.
> continuation of the new deal
> wanted to reward Black american’s contribution to the war effort
> believed in equality but understood that it would face opposition
- ‘tides are slowly turning’
> he had pressure from outside America
- previously colonial African and Asian States were becoming independent- hoe could he face their leaders when they had such an issue with racism
What were the 3 main policies for civil rights of the Fair Deal that Truman pushed post WW2?
> end lynching
> abolish poll tax
> desegregate Armed forces
> only achieved 3rd because of congress opposition
