Issue 2: Obstacles to Civil Rights in the USA before the 1950s Flashcards
introduction
background-
- In 1865, the american civil war ended and 4 million slaves were set free(B1)
- Up to the 1920s and 1930s, Black Americans were still denied the vote in many Southern States.
outline your factors-
- lack of political influence
- legal impediments
- divisions in the black community
- activities of the ku klux klan
- popular prejudice
outline your argument
factor 1 - lack of political influence
KU- “Jim Crow” laws were created, putting measures in place such as segregation, denying black people the right to vote and violence and terror (lynching).
Analysis- This meant southern state governments could produce any “jim crow” law they wanted e.g stopping black people from voting, which meant that they could not make any political change.
Analysis+- This was illegal but there was no real way for black people to make an effective protest against this type of abuse of power.
KU- As early as 1916, black protesters complained to president Woodrow Wilson about the segregation laws but were merely told that segregation was a benefit for them.
Analysis- This showed that black people had no support from the government whatsoever.
Evaluation- This was a big obstacle as it showed black americans clearly had no political power in america before the 1950s
factor 2- legal impediments
KU- In 1892, Homer Plessy was charged for riding a white only railway car and failing to move to the black section of the car, his case was taken to supreme court who ruled that it was acceptable for black and white peoples to be segregated as long as they were equal.
Analysis- The courts decision made segregation acceptable, yet many black americans did not face equal facilities.
Analysis +- This led to segregation in all walks of life and wasn’t overturned until 1954.
KU- Despite the legal defeat, it had a major impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
Analysis- His actions helped inspire the formation of the NAACP. They incorporated Plessy’s 14th amendment arguments before the U.S Supreme court in the 1954 Brown vs Board of education case.
Evaluation- This was a big obstacle as it showed that even the highest court in America would favour with the white man instead of a black man, showing how favoured the white man was.
Factor 3- Divisions in the black community
KU- The NAACP was founded in 1910 by William De Bois, the organisation was to fight to reduce racial segregation and white supremacy. The organisation had 91,000 members in 1910.
Analysis- The NAACP had some achievements by getting support for the anti-lynching campaigns.
Analysis+ However, divisions in the black community was an obstacle to civil rights for black people because the NAACP and the UNIA failed to unite together to fight for civil rights and equality.
KU- The UNIA was founded in 1914 by Marcus Garvey, this organisation was to attract major public attention in the 1920s.
Analysis- Divisions in the black community was an obstacle for civil rights because both the NAACP and the UNIA lacked clear and unified leadership, and didn’t like each other.
Evaluation- This was a big obstacle to civil rights as two of the biggest civil rights organisations found it hard to agree on things, making it harder for more civil rights work to be done and agreed on.
Factor 4- Activites of the Ku Klux Klan
KU- The Ku Klux Klan released a movie in 1915 called “Birth of a nation” in which the KKK was depicted as heroes fighting newly freed slaves, this film was shown in the white house and was publicly endorsed by President Wilson.
Analysis- The film created a nationwide craze for the KKK and made the public like them.
Analysis+- This obviously was an obstacle to civil rights as it made more people see black americans as the enemies and led to prejudice against them.
KU- In certain states, such as Alabama, the Klan was not just a “hate” group and showed a genuine desire for political and social reform.
Analysis- This was an obstacle to civil rights because the states Klansmen were among the foremost advocates of better public schools, expanded road construction and other “progressive” political measures.
Analysis+- This was a further obstacle as some of the most powerful men in this state were advocates for the KKK and therefore had no interest in furthering civil rights, and black people had no political power.
Evaluation- This was one of the biggest obstacles to Civil rights as the KKK was a massive problem in the South, and led to the struggling of black people, and because of the lack of political power amongst the black community, they weren’t able to be stopped.
Factor 5- Popular prejudice
KU- In the 1920s and 1930s, especially in Southern states, but also in the North there was a significant proportion of white population hostile towards any suggestion that Black americans were equal to themselves. There was also a believe in the inferiority of the black man.
Analysis- This was an obstacle to civil rights as the prejudice of white people continued all across America, and added to the sense that America was a divided society.
KU- The KKK was no joke to black people living in the Southern States, as violence from the KKK became more common, such as being beaten, tortured and even lynched.
Analysis- This was an obstacle to civil rights for black people as it made America a scary environment for black people, and especially in the South, black people were seen as inferior.
Analysis+- This was a further obstacle to civil rights because it was clear black americans were never going to be allowed political power as long as they were seen inferior.
Evaluation- This was a big obstacle to civil rights as civil rights couldn’t be fought for and gained when most of america’s population still saw black people as inferior.
Conclusion
- ATQ “In conclusion…”
- Provide relative judgements of at least 2 factors. Give a balanced assessment (A/A+)
- Give your judgement “overall”
