New Deal and WWII African Americans Flashcards
How did the Depression impact African Americans?
In the Depression cotton prices rose rapidly and 12,000 black sharecroppers lost their jobs leading to an influx of African Americans entering the cities.
How did organisations try to get an anti-lynching bill passed?
Organisation: NAACP and American Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching, formed 1930, pushed for legislation as by 1932 lynchings hit 28. In 1937 the Gavagan Bill was rejected in the Senate as Southern Democrats had a filibuster. Roosevelt’s power limited. In 1934 Roosevelt told Walter White of NAACP that he could not pass the law due to Democrats in the South.
What were the FCA and CCA?
Farm Credit Association and Consumer Credit Administration saw incomes rise by 58% for farmers between 1932-5 as loans were given, but between 1933-4 100,000 black farmers forced off land with reduced acreage as white people dominated county committees.
What were the CCCs?
Civilian Conservation Corps, CCC, set on 31 March 1933. 10% of projects reserved for black men. However, in Clarke Country, Georgia, not one black resident was chosen and in July 1935 Robert Fechter issued segregation in response to white complaint.
What was the NRA?
The NRA was created by NIRA in June 1933, alongside the PWA. General Hugh Johnson issued codes and raised wages but cleaning and manual work, dominated by African Americans, neglected. The National Association for Domestic Workers complained that the average wages were too low.
How was the ND limited in helping black people in unions? What was the SSA?
The ND recognised unions but majority of black people were in American Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, only 50,000 of 3.4 million in unions were black. Closed shop policy meant white shop.
1935 Social Security Act, SSA, excluded pensions for domestic and agricultural workers, which made 65% of black people’s work.
Outline Roosevelt’s advisers?
In 1934 Robert Weaver, an AA, was recommended by the NAACP and became Roosevelt’s special adviser on the Economic Status of the Negro. His racial quotas for the US Housing Authority meant 1/3 of housing units were occupied by AAs. Harry Hopkins’ WPA provided work for 350,000 AAs and Mary Mcleod Bethune in the National Youth Administration provided skills training for 500,000.
What was the FSA?
1937 – Farm Security Administration ran by Rexford Tugswell. Colour blind and offered $122,000 in land to black farming population. Shortlived.
What did ER do for civil rights?
In 1935 Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women before becoming the chairperson of the Black Cabinet as appointed by Eleanor Roosevelt due to her reception of letters. In 1939 ER also had Marion Anderson, a black singer, perform at the Lincoln Memorial to 75,000 when the DAR didn’t let her perform.
How did the Supreme Court assist civil rights?
1923 Moore v Dempsey – a mob was dominating a trial so 12 black people didn’t receive their death sentences.
1938 Gaines v Canada – Supreme Court ruled that separate must be equal. More liberal people entered the Supreme Court.
