AAs in the gilded age - Lack of progress

Question 1

What specific factors hindered civil rights in this period?

Answer 1

Segregation, political discrimination and unequal treatment under the law all hindered civil rights in this period.

Question 2

When and where did transport begin to be segregated?

Answer 2

Around 1881, the State of Tennessee enacted what many consider the first Jim Crow law, where “every railroad company were required to furnish separate cars for coloured passengers” even at the same price.

Question 3

What followed after Tennessee’s segregation of transport in 1881?

Answer 3

Every other Southern State followed suit, most going further and beginning to segregate all areas of public life.

Question 4

How did the majority of African Americans feel about the segregation of public life?

Answer 4

Many felt furious and regarded these as indignities and humiliations.

Question 5

Did all AAs oppose segregation at this time?

Answer 5

Not all of them. Most notablly, Booker T Washington famously favoured the segregation a long with other AAs who felt a colour line was necessary.

Question 6

What were Booker T Washington’s views on segregation?