African American Progress 1877-1920 Flashcards
What were the Jim Crow laws
Passed during the 19th century by southern states of America
It’s purpose was to segregate blacks and whites
It deprives blacks of their civil rights and created a racial caste system that would last until the 1950s
Why did Jim Crow Laws symbolise a rise in state rights
Represented a revival of an aspect of the pre-Civil war belief in states rights
Significance of the slaughter house case 1873
Further weakened the position of blacks
Provided opponents of reconstruction an opportunity to offer a narrow interpretation of the 14th amendment
Allowed legal (dejure) segregation to take place
De facto segregation occurred in the North
When was the slaughter house cases
1873
Significance of the US vs Reece cases 1876
Allowed voting restrictions- judges held that the 15th Amendment didn’t give the right to vote
1900- only 3% of black men can vote
(Grandfather clause, poll tax and literacy test)
When was US vs Reece
1876
Significance of US vs Cruikshank
Supreme Court ruled that the 14th amendment protected rights and privileges of citezens only when they are infringed by the actions of a state
Hence racial crime perpetuated by individuals were not the target of federal law
When was US vs Cruikshank
1876
What was the 1883 ruling on the Civil rights act of 1875
Segregation and public discrimination can take place
When was the ruling of the civil rights act of 1875
1883
What was the significance of plessy vs Ferguson
Court ruled the concept of segregation legal
Segregation still occurred and despite the theory of equal, black people had worse facilities
Segregation occurred until Brown vs Topeka
Jim Crow Laws
Dejour segregation
Significance of cumming vs board of education 1899
Removed equal educational opportunities
Discontinued high school services for 60 AA in order to provide the elementary education for 300 AA
The court did not think federal authorities had the authority to interfere in the operation of the schools
When was cumming vs board of education
1899
How do you think segregation affected the lives and attitudes of blacks and whites
Lives- the segregation facilities for AA were worse- worse living conditions then whites
Attitudes- segregation allowed racist views to still occur as people were not integrating
What methods were used to stop disenfranchise blacks- interpretation of 15th Amendment
Grandfather clause
Poll tax
Literacy test
How did methods used to disenfranchise blacks not affect poor illiterate whites
The grandfather clause states that if your grandfather votes, you can vote
AA previously slaves and so ancestors didn’t vote
This only applied to poor illiterate whites
What was the significance of Williams vs Mississippi 1898
Proved that there isn’t equal protection from the law and that racism still existed in court
When was Williams vs Mississippi
1898
What was the situation by 1909
Nearly all southern states passed Jim Crow Laws
There were partitioned coaches and Jim Crow Cars
Which one had been most significant in the denial of civil rights to African Americans
State, Supreme Court, Federal gov
Federal gov- no adequate protection- 15th Amendment intepretated- took away vote- most important
What impact did Singleton and the exodusters have on the lives of AA
Singleton found the Tennessee Real Estate and Homestead Association
It was meant to assist AA in req land to settle on in the south
He urged AA to form their own independent communities when this proves unsuccessful
People who followed singletons advice were known as the exodusters
By 1875, Singleton and Co had founded the Edgefield Real Estate Association which held rallies
At first- Kansas welcomes the exodusters big the gov and other railroads officials tried to discourage further black immigration
Migration of AA eventually stopped and 2/3 left the south and moved to other opportunities
Strong black communities formed in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, California
What was the progressive era
An age of improvement for American Society thru education, political reform, business reform and social welfare
Who was Ovington and Baker
Individual progressives who spoke out against racial injustice
Even tho southern politicians supported progressivism, they often supported ‘business progressivism’ WhAt was the problem w this?
Opportunistic- believed public health programmes and social reforms would attract new business and industry into the south
However, they also incorporated disenfranchisement of blacks into their platforms as an essential element of social control
McKinley attitudes to civil rights for AA
- denounced lynching in his 1897 but failed to condemn that practice formally
- refrained from taking action curtail the general anti-black violence in the South
- He appointed thirty African Americans to positions of consequence, which were principally in diplomatic and records offices, but that number fell far short of what black Republicans had wanted from the leader of Abraham Lincoln’s party
- During the Spanish-American War, he countermanded orders preventing recruitment and service of black soldiers.
Roosevelt attitudes to civil rights for African Americans
Energetic young reformer who promised all Americans ‘a square deal.’ He claimed all blacks were inferior but also spoke out against lynching.
- very reluctant to use federal authority to enforce the 15th Constitution guaranteeing voting rights to African Americans.
- Publicly, Roosevelt spoke out against racism and discrimination, and appointed blacks to lower-level Federal offices
- He opposed school segregation, having ended the practice in New York he was Governor of that state
- Roosevelt also rejected anti-Semitism and he was the first Oscar S. Straus, to the cabinet
Taft attitudes to civil rights for African Americans
met with and publicly endorsed African-American leader Booker T. Washington’s program for advancing the cause of African-Americans.
- Taft advised Washington to tell his fellow African-Americans to stay out emphasized the need for education and entrepreneurship as the keys for advancement of Washington’s people.
- Aside from meeting with Washington and giving him the benefit of that free any Taft was too pre-occupied with other issues during his presidency to address reform in this area.
Wilson attitudes to civil rights for African Americans
He had a policy “A new Freedom for America’ He passed other progressive reforms which restored monopolies and regulated interstate trade, as he did nothing to alienate the suffering of blacks.
He said ‘segregation is not humiliating but a benefit, you gentlemen.
disappointed many of the blacks who voted for him, as the National Association policies and broke agreements made with groups such the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The Civil Rights Movement regained strength during Wilson’s second term when ar that black soldiers would be instrumental in winning World War 1
Segregation in sport
Since 1899s all professional sports had banned black participants
In the boxing world, white heavy weight Champaigns see the colour line and refused to fight black contenders
Tommy Burns (white) was defeated by Johnson (black) in the first heavy weight title between a black and white person
In 1895- blacks were invited to qualify for the Penn relay in Philadelphia
However they have to find their own sponsors and practice fields
In 1915- Robeson won a 4 year scholarship at Rutgers College in a state wide written competitions
HE WAS THE 3RD AA TO DO SO AND LATER BECAME AN ALL AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER
Why was Wilson’s statement ‘the world must be made safe for democracy’ ironic?
America wasn’t fully democratic- not everyone could vote
What evidence is there of mass participation for civil rights
Inc WW1
15,000 blacks conducted a silence parade in NYC- carrying signs to protest
Against
Lynching and race riots in American cities
During WW1 the newly formed NAACP led the fight against discrimination and segregation and to prevent mistreatment of AA in the military
Role of AP Randolph and his response
WW1
Pessimistic about WhAt silent parade could mean for AA
Pointing out that they battled in American wars since he revolution still didn’t give them citizenship
Role of W.E.B Dubois and NAACP and his response
WW1
While war lasts, we should forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow citezens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy
During WW1 the newly forced NAACP led the fight against discrimination and segregation and to prevent mistreatment of AA in the military
Role of Pershing and his response
WW1
Introduced segregation in trenches by loaning his black combat troops of the 93rd division to the French Army
How did racism continue in the armed forces in WW1
Served in segregated units
Blacks= barred from marine corps and the coast guards
AA actively pushed into becoming officers and stewards
Initially AA refused training as army officers
What was the impact of the Harlem Hellfighters
Black soldiers-proved their worth by driving the Germans back at Argonne-Forrest and the Muese River
In total they spent 191 days in the front line - longer than any other American unit in the war
Why did WW1 help develop the civil rights campaign
Blacks and whites both received honours for there participation in the war
(Crolxe de Guerre- this was awarded for taking Sechault on Sept 1918)
What was the response to black Americans after WW1 ended
Lunching and violence as many whites didn’t want black prople to be treated as equals simply as they participated in the war
How did the war alter the labour market
Stifled the flow of immigrant labour
Workers needed in north
AA left south to north
What was the Great migration
The movement of AA from the south to the north to work
It was the largest internal movement of people in American history
1916-1970
Brought about 1.25 million blacks to industrial centres of Northern and midwestern states before depression occurred
How was the Great migration encouraged
Circulations of AA newspapers suck as Chicago Defender and The Ledger published stories about successful black immigrants
Did the Great migration encourage the development of civil rights
YES
UNIA formed
1910- The National Urban League formed by an alliance of black conservatives
(led by Dr George E Haynes) and
white philanthropists and social workers began to help black migrants find employment, housing and education
What encouraged the re-emergence of the KKK
Hollywood epic film ‘Birth of a nation’ was based on Reverend Thomas Dixon Jr-
Anti black play ‘The Clansman’- portrayed KKK as heroes and blacks as lazy
This was featured in 1915
The kkk had dissolved before this
How had the KKK changed compared to Reconstruction
Not only anti black
Also anyone who was ‘un american’
Jews
Immigrants
Roman Catholics
What impact did the KKK have by 1920
Over 100,000 members
Late 1940s- dropped to 20,000
Appearance of burning cross- Thanksgiving Day 1920
Name 4 AA activists
Ida B Wells
Marcus Garvey
Booker T Washington
W.E.B DuBois
Explain who
Booker T Washington is
AA activist
-Modelled the Tushegee Institution, opened in 1888 in the Hampton school
-Bought a farm of 40 acres
—first time a black man spoke publicly in the same platform as whites in southern states
BUT
- In order to reduce racial conflict, he advises blacks to stop demanding equal rights and learn segregation
- Washington was labelled as an accommodation racist and was criticised by northern blacks
ATLANTA COMPROMISE SPEECH- success
But people argued he miseducated
🛑
Explain who W.E.B Dubois is
AA activist
- 1st AA to recurve doctoral degree
- Published the suppression of African slave trade to the USA
- also published the soil of black folk
- offered a programme v similar to that employed later during the civil rights movements 1960s
- was an intergrationist- Didn’t get along w Washington
He helped determine which racial polices and practices were acceptable
MEH
Explain who Ida B Wells is
AA activist
- A Leading crusader against lynching
- Journalist and newspaper editor is Memphis
- began to campaign against lynching
- member of NAACP (later left)
- 1901- publishes book ‘Lynching and the excuse’
Her life was threatened and she was eventually forced out of the south
✅✅lynching steadily decreases
National audience
Who was Marcus Garvey
AA activist
-Involved in the Jamaican nationalist movement
-established UNIA
And recruited around 1,000 members for it in NY and Harlem
-published weekly newspaper- ‘The Negro world’ - wide circulation
-POWER
-short of money to fund
- 1920-24 Bois publishes ‘The crisis’ critical of Garvey
-popularity decreases
- 1922- Black Star line goes bankrupt
- federal hoc indicated Garvey for mail fraud
NAACP - launched ‘Garvey must go’
-5 year prison sentence
Gained ‘Garveysim’ followers Newspapers had wide circulation BUT Labelled black supremacist and even met w the KKK - seperatism 🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑
