African Americans Flashcards

- position in 1865, Reconstruction, white reaction and discrimination - the role of African Americans in gaining civil rights (e.g. Booker T Washington, Dubois, Martin Luther King, the Black Panthers) - the roles of Federal (Presidents, Congress and Supreme Court) and State governments in the struggle - the role of anti and pro-civil rights groups - the Civil Rights Movement to 1992

1
Q

How did the position of African Americans change from 1865-1992?

A

Possible turning points:
- 1930s New Deal
- 1960s Civil Rights movement

Many sig. gains made over the period i.e the right to vote, integration of schools etc.

However socially still regressive as shown through the 1992 Rodney King assault by police officers - discriminatory attitudes still present

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2
Q

What was the position of AAs post Civil War?

A
  • The war left unresolved the position of African Americans- former slaves should leave or ensure African Americans had the same rights as white people.
  • ‘Sharecropping’- white landowners allowed former slaves to work on their land in return for a share of what’s produced.
  • Violence and limitations after the war- Post-war period was characterised by uncertainty, Govt didnt know what to do with the freed slaves and Southern rebels.
  • White pop reluctant.
  • African Americans were uncertain about their role in post-war America and how to push for equality.
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3
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5
Q

How important were the US govt in the devt of AA rights

A
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6
Q

Influence of SC on AA CR: Brown vs Board - 1954
overturning
Plessy vs Fergusson - 1896

A

Demonstrates a somewhat significant change as this was the SC overturning its own decision. Set a legal precedent that was later used to overturn other laws enforcing segregation, but did little to actually integrate schools.

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7
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9
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10
Q

How important was the role of individual AAs in devt of civil rights.

A
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11
Q

How did Ida B Wells affect/advance the AA’s CR?

A
  • assisted in the successful SC overturning of…in 1892
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12
Q

How did Booker T. Washington advance AA CR?

A

Advanced:
- Emphasis on vocational training & econ. self-sufficiency for AAs through the Tuskegee institute = AAs gained skills that made better jobs & econ. stability accessible

Hindered:
- many viewed his approach as an acceptance of racism so radicals like DuBois thought compromise was betrayal
- created rifts between key AA CR leaders

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13
Q

How did W.E.B DuBois advance AA CRs?

A

Advanced:
- Niagra Movement = laid the foundations for NAACP
- Publicised the fight for CR through media, press and org. marches

Hindered:
- Radicalism isolated him from moderate civil rights leaders & campaigners so faced criticism as a result

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14
Q

How did Marcus Garvey advance AA CRs?

A

Advanced:
- estab. of the ‘Black Star’ line shipping company and the UNIA successfully mobilised & thus united many (claimed to be 4 mil) AAs.
- Provided a viable strategy of collective action & grassroots mobilisation for future black leaders (Malcolm X)
- emboldened AAs = gave them the notion that they were equal to whites so caused them to push for better rights

Hindered:
- Economic ventures = ult a great failure
- Development of Black Nationalism

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15
Q

How did Philip Randolph advance AA CRs?

A

Advanced:
- March on Washington 1963, and in 1941 pressurised Truman into the desegregation of the Armed services
- thoroughly understood non-violent protests which were key to the advancement of AA CRs
Hindered:

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16
Q

How did MLK JR advance AA CRs?

A

Advanced:
Marches & demos brought attention to movement = allowed CR legislation to be passed
- V. aware of importance of media ‘I have a dream speech’ drew int. attention to the movement, pressuring the US govt.

Hindered:
- Whilst he helped to introduce legislation, racism = heavily ingrained in society
- criticised for coop w/ whites by other CR leaders

17
Q

How did Malcolm X advance AA CRs?

A

Advanced:
Promoted ‘Black Nationalism’ & involvement w/ Black panthers promoted a sense of pride/identity not reliant on integration.
Influenced ‘Black power’

Hindered:
- not much success in actually engendering CR legislation
- less popular/less support w/in black circles (i.e MLK jr) bc v. extreme
- extremism isolated him from many esp. white liberals = v. key

18
Q

How strong was opposition to AA civil rights?

A
19
Q

The KKK

A
20
Q

Attitudes & Actions of State Govt.

A
21
Q

The White Citizens Council

A
22
Q

Supreme Court

A
23
Q

How important were orgs. in AA CR?

A

Arg. most important was the NAACP or CORE bc NAACP introduced legal acts to improve lives & CORE actually tested the effectiveness of this legislation.

Least important/impactful would be the Nation of Islam or Black Panthers - moreso NOI bc highly militant and exclusionary.

24
Q

NAACP

A

Advanced:
- Spearheaded the Montgomery Bus Boycotts which demonstrated the power of local organisations
- Legal campaigns & the role of Thurgood Marshall = Brown vs Board ruling was instrumental in the fight for desegregation & 1944 SC ruling that prevented voting discrimination
- Longest lasting organisation & the 1st group which meant they were key in laying the foundations for other groups i.e the SCLC

Limitations:
- Failed to recruit mass following - only 6000 members by 1915
- Main tactic = litigation & law, didn’t acc change the social atmosphere of the time & often these laws weren’t enforced!!!

25
Q

CORE

A

Advanced:
- successful campaigning through freedom rides in 1947 & 61 led to the desegregation of interstate transport
- United white lib. opinion & expertise which showed that there was potential for cooperation and integration
- Freedom rides raised awareness to the cause as provoked mob violence which illustrated the plight of AAs to the public
- Arg. more effective than the NAACP bc they tested the legislation to prove whether it made a difference

26
Q

SCLC

A

Advanced:
- Demonstration of 1961 highlights police brutality & draws awareness to movement
- Kings speech 1963 - draws mass support & international attention to the movement
So the effective use of media & bus boycotts etc demonstrated how to implement a grassroots strategy

27
Q

UNIA

A

Advanced:
- use of parades = mass mobilisation of AAs with a membership of 1 mil which also gained international support thereby pressurising the US govt. to react
- use of capitalism to devt the Black star shipping company demonstrated that Blacks were equal to Whites & also a viable econ. asset.

Limited:
Continued to restrict the ability to cooperate w/ white liberals due to Black nationalism

28
Q

NOI

A

Advanced:
Instrumental in elevating the position of Malcolm X, helping him devt. ideas regarding separatism.
- Provided a community for AAs to develop ideas that they were important ppl, boosting their self-respect.

Limited:
Although key in devt. Malcolm X’s ideas etc which enabled him to have a long-lasting legacy, ult. not v. positively impactful as their radicalism undermined the CR movement

29
Q

Black Panthers

A

Advanced:
- Essential in socially boosting AAs in terms of devt. Black culture outside of harmful stereotypes
- Carrying weapons = boosted their confidence & gave rise to the belief that white views could be challenged.
Limited:
Major hinderance bc militant style isolated them from groups i.e SCLC, other CR leaders & lib. whites which were all essential to integration

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32
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A