Civil Rights - FP2 - Main Causes of Jim Crow

Question 1

Political Challenge of Populism

Answer 1

Populist movements - coalitions between blacks and whites of lower social class
Dems appealed to race loyalty and Reconstructivon memories to create white political unity
Cynical campaign from white planters

Question 2

Theories of biologial racism

Answer 2

Psuedo scientific race theories - Havards evolution display showed a monkey, then a black man, then a white man
Southern whites able to legitimise segregation on the basis that blacks were a plague of crime, disease and immorality - derogatory stereotypes
Creation of a hierachy and growth of stereotypes

Question 3

Supreme Court Rulings

Answer 3

1883 invalidation of 1875 Civil Rights Act
Erosion of basic rights of citizenship and 14th and 15th amendments

Question 4

Violence and intimidation and disenfranchisement

Answer 4

1887 strike for fair wages in Louisiana over 30 shot dead
Decline in black voters, as they forfeit rights due to fear of violence, decreased influence

Question 5

Republicans, Democrats and the states

Answer 5

Democrat dominance in the South - rights of states to have power of Black people - excuse essentially
Growing black migration to North - 49,000 1870’s, 62,000 1880’s, 132,000 1890’s
South and North reconciliation for the economy - Republican party and the North no longer care - no electoral power either

Question 6

Obstacles facing black activism

Answer 6

Black activism limited by costly litigation, and blacks lacked education - limited action

Question 7

Federal inaction

Answer 7

Wanted to concentrate on North 1909 William Taft arguaed it is not the disposition or province of Federal gov to interfere with states
Harrison refuses to intervene over changes MIsissippi made to constituion 1890 disenfranchising black Americans
1890 Senator Blair introduced public education aid for equality of black and white education - failed
Henry Cabot Lodge elections bill also failed