America - 1.2 Flashcards
1
Q
what was the great migration?
A
- mass movement of roughly 5 million African Americans from the south to the north/west between 1915 and 1960
- during initial wave many went to major cities but but by ww2 many were heading further west e.g. to LA
2
Q
what were the impacts of the great migration on the north?
A
- segregation in some ways made it easier to gain political positions as a black politician campaigning in a black ward was likely to sweep all the votes in that area, this meant they were listened to more
- rise in workers meant industries thrived as they could alternate labour shortages
- had their own churches and schools
- overpopulation forced many into poverty
- black people ‘voting with their own feet’
- many dislodged white workers especially those in unions pushing for better conditions
3
Q
what impact did the northern migration have on the south?
A
- labour force shrank and endured economic problems because of this and resentment to the blacks for leaving
- southern conditions didn’t really change as white people saw black people who stayed as accepting of Jim Crow laws so racial segregation worsened
4
Q
why did lynhings become so common?
A
many people began to deem segregation as not enough and so black people needed terrorising into obedience
-some where because of a crime some just sheer hatred
5
Q
who was Emmet Till?
A
14 year old boy lynched in 1955 who lived in Chicago but was visiting a southern state
-he wasn’t aware of the southern rules so allegedly asked a white woman on a date
6
Q
what impact did the KKK have?
A
- white supremacy group who primarily targeted African Americans
- by 1925, estimates of membership ranged from three to eight million -this included people of real social and political power in the south like policemen and the army
- women klan members instilled their attitudes into their children creating anti-black environment
7
Q
what federal intervention was there in the south?
A
- ruled segregation was okay as long as upheld ‘separate but equal’
- laissez faire approach by republican go meant they didn’t want to interfere with people’s lives, therefore they felt they could express opinion but not enforce it with legislation
- depression became main concern so less CR legislation
8
Q
two Jim Crow law examples
A
- no marriage between a black and white couple even up to four generations of descent
- illegal for black person to go to a park designed for the entertainment of white people
9
Q
what and why were the Jim Crow laws introduced?
A
- white resentment to black people about generating an economic problem post the abolition of slavery -no workers to man the plantations and meet demand
- legacy remained ingrained into the views of whites
- once federal troops left the south in 1877, states made more laws to enforce segregation and were less likely to have them overturned
- plessy vs Ferguson =major set back in black CRs
10
Q
what positive impacts did the SWW have on blacks?
A
- Roosevelt banned discrimination in defence work (executive order 8802) meaning both races fought along side each other with a common goal
- number in armed forces rose from 4000-1.2 million and a committee on fair employment practices was set up to supervise this
- however, usually benefits were only in the defence industry or in response to AP Randolphs march not a token of sympathy
- however still very large scale
- inter racial friendships which weren’t possible in society
11
Q
what negative impacts did the SWW have on blacks?
A
- white workers still given preference
- influx In black workers saw white resentment in the form of violent outbreaks and strikes. yet this did mean several towns set up race relation committees to investigate improvements
12
Q
what did A.P.Randolph do?
A
- led a successful protest of rail workers in 1941 threatening a 100,000 all black march on Washington unless Roosevelt banned discrimination in defence work
- yet this didn’t deal with military segregation and faced considerable opposition
13
Q
what did Truman do to help the CRM?
A
- proposed anti lynching, anti segregation and fair employment yet failed to push them through congress
- set up president committee on CR who called for equal opportunities in housing
- built 810,000 low income homes, many of which blacks benefitted as they were some of the worst off in society
- yet failed to push employment laws through congress, and even when he did the FEPC lacked funding
- Cold War highlighted the duplicitous nature of the Gov, fighting for freedom but depriving their citizens
14
Q
why was it difficult for Truman to help the CRM?
A
- his proposals were often blocked by republicans and southern delegates, as well as receiving lukewarm support from northern ones
- main concern was the Cold War and because of this and previous collaboration between communists and blacks many CR organisations ended up as government suspects
15
Q
hw did the new deal help the CRM?
A
- Roosevelt supported CR but needed support from racists and southern states so couldn’t help all that much
- set the minimum wage at the same rate as whites and provided housing relief with 1/3 of low income houses having black tenants
- however the was less federal help the a by-product of blacks being the worst off in society
- executive order 7027 gave black farmers who had lost a home a new one and some money to resettle in (yet only helped 3400 out of 200,000)
16
Q
how did the new deal not help the CRM?
A
- Roosevelt needed support from racists and souther states so didn’t pass laws against things like lynching
- New Deal discriminated against black e.g. making them move off projects for white workers and sacked during agricultural reforms
- everyone was suffering during the depression and therefore discrimination was undermined
- AA were banned from trade unions and could therefore displace white workers pushing for higher wages, leadings to discrimination
- Executive Order 7027 to help black farmers who had lost their homes, however only 3400, out of 200,000 were helped
17
Q
out of new deal, SWW and Truman, what helped CRM the most?
A
- discrimination was often undermined by the effects of the Great Depression which were felt ubiquitously throughout the country
- Truman tried to pass legislation but these were either blocked by congress or neglected because of foreign affairs
- previous collaboration between Africans Americans and communists also made this worse
- during the SWW, they D and R rallied behind a common goal making it easier to pass legislation
- change attitudes as two races forged inter-racial friendships which weren’t possible within a segregated society
18
Q
what happened following the war in regards to CR?
A
- rise in blacks fighting for CR (9000 in 1917 to 600,000 in 1946)as many had experienced equality during the war and had expected this to pass over into civilian life
- separatist movement occurred saying blacks will never have true equality so should stop fighting for it, rather should embrace segregation and fight for equality within this as it was viewed as more feasible
19
Q
who were the NAACP?
A
- group that aimed to gain African american’s legal rights
- began by mounting a campaign against lynching through petitions, pamphlets and marches
- provided lawyers to defend black people on trial who had been unjustly accused
- NAACP won every legal case in the 30s, 40s and 50s
20
Q
what were the successes of brown v board?
A
- in regards to changing social attitudes is good as desegregation of schools meant children were raised to feel equal not superior/inferior changing the prejudice impressions often imprinted at a young age
- 1954 desegregation of schools
- overturned plessy v Ferguson case of 1896 which had previously restricted many legal successes as it was difficult to undisputedly provide evidence that provisions weren’t equal - paved way for future success as segregation became harder to administer legally
21
Q
what was brown v board?
A
- Oliver brown said daughter had to travel too far to nearest black school when local white school just down the road
- 1954 NAACP challenged desegregation of schools following previous failed attempts to fulfil this in 1951
- argued it went against separate but equal
22
Q
drawbacks of brown v board?
A
- weakened the force of ruling by setting no time limit using vague phrases like with ‘all deliberate speed’
- southern states dragged their heals (e.g. ten years after ruling 1/100 black southern children went to unintegrated school)
- led to poor treatment of children as seen in Little Rock
- integrating schools was less than helpful if families still lived in separate neighbourhoods
23
Q
what was the Montgomery bus boycott?
A
- 1955 rosa parks asked to give up her seat for white passenger, she refused and was arrested
- NAACP heard her case and set up MIA
- organised a 381 day ban on using public buses encouraging blacks to car share and use alternate methods
24
Q
successes of Montgomery bus boycott?
A
- 1957 desegregation of public transport this was implemented nationally so the benefits were widespread and prevalent
- MLK imager as figurehead that black people could rally behind and from which he could shape the movement
- lots of media coverage keeping them informed and making CRM a widespread national problem
25
Q
drawbacks of Montgomery bus boycott?
A
- hardened racial divide as in the next local election white candidates who favoured segregation were elected.
- violence bestowed on individuals like king (e.g. kings house was firebombed and snipes shot at black passengers sitting white seats)
26
Q
what was the 1927 sweet trial?
A
- group of black people were charged with murder after an angry white mob surrounded and attacked the house they recently moved into
- legal defence fund set up to provide provisions to assist future cases and for further success in legal action
27
Q
what was the 1948 Shelley v Kraemer case?
A
- fought the ban on black people buying houses in certain areas
- benefitted people across whole country as removed an limits posed when buying a house
- also led to NAACP setting up national committee against discrimination in housing in 1950
28
Q
drawbacks of legal action
A
- challenge when implementing their successes in practice as often left to independent states to enforce laws at their own discretion leading to extreme variations exacerbating north-south divide
- didn’t advance position of black Americans so victories were often localised isolated changes which became insignificant to wider black community
- nature of going through courts meant many southern delegates that held seats aimed to block progression and being indifferent to position of blacks led to diminishing success
29
Q
who was MLK?
A
- experienced a relatively privileged upbringing in a rich neighbourhood
- gifted student studying medicine and law
- broadened his scope of activism by addressing issues scubas Vietnam was and poverty of all American races
- fatally shot leading to national day of honour in his legacy
