African American Opposition - Social

Question 1

Why did racial hostility remain between white southerners and African Americans throughout reconstruction?

Answer 1

Many white southerners found it psychologically impossible to see blacks as equals

Question 2

When were the Black Codes set up?

Answer 2

1865

Question 3

What did the Black Codes define as illegal for the newly freed slaves?

Answer 3

• Marriage between two “negros” was allowed, but interracial marriage was prohibited
• Legal rights were limited - they could not give evidence against a white person or serve on juries
• They were not able to vote

Question 4

Were the Black Codes effective?

Answer 4

Not really, as Northern Troops occupied southern states soon after and nullified the impacts, however it revealed white southern attitudes to black civil rights

Question 5

What is Frederick Douglass’s comment about the condition of African American Civil Rights throughout reconstruction?

Answer 5

“Free from the individual master but a slave of society”

Question 6

What justification did White Southerners give for segregating schools during reconstruction?

Answer 6

They believed that in mixed schools African-American children would corrupt white children

Question 7

Why did White Southerners implement the Black Codes?

Answer 7

Fears and insecurities of marauding blacks taking whites women and white livelihoods

Question 8

Who founded the KKK?

Answer 8

Nathaniel Forest

Question 9

How did the KKK intend to achieve their aims?

Answer 9

By creating an atmosphere of racial hostility and terror

Question 10

Why was the KKK formed?

Answer 10

To attempt to scare newly enfranchised African Americans away from voting Republican, and guarantee the supremacy of the white race

Question 11

How did the KKK intimidate African Americans?

Answer 11

• Lynchings
• General violence
• Rapings
• Murders

Question 12

Give an example of general violence perpetrated by the KKK

Answer 12

In May 1866 46 people were killed and 5 women were raped in 3 days of violence after a collision between a white driver and a black driver

Question 13

Give an example of the KKK attempting to intimidate African Americans to stop them from voting

Answer 13

In New Orleans 1867, a group of African Americans soldiers travelling to vote were attacked: 34 were killed and over 100 were injured

Question 14

How did White Southerns justify their intense emotional feelings of superiority over African Americans?

Answer 14

Social Darwinism - the ideal that societies developed faster than others because the race that governed it was superior

Question 15

What inspired the resurgence of the KKK in 1915?

Answer 15

• Fear of communism
• Anti-immigration sentiment as many European migrants were moving to America
• The Birth of Nation

Question 16

How many members did the KKK have in 1924?

Answer 16

6 million members

Question 17

Which region/state had the highest Klan membership?

Answer 17

Midwest - Indiana had 250,000 members alone

Question 18

Which state elected a governor who was a Klan member?

Answer 18

Indiana

Question 19

What caused the decline of the second Klan?

Answer 19

The case of prominent Klan member DC Stephenson who was convicted of murder led to many corruption scandals between the Klan and local officials in Indiana being released

Question 20

What was the membership of the second Klan by 1930

Answer 20

Barely 30,000 members remained

Question 21

Give an example of a Lynching

Answer 21

• Springfield Riot - 1908
• White residents burned black homes and business and attacked African Americans, after the police refused to hand over the suspect of a rape case.
• Eventually the suspect: 84 year old William Donegal was lynched, who’s crime had been being married to a white woman