The changing geography of civil rights issues Flashcards
how many black Americans were in America in 1850
4 million of Americans were black
where did the majority of black Americans live
The majority of black Americans lived in the South due to the restricted movement capabilities because of slavery
When were slaves freed
Slaves were freed in 1865 with the passing of the 13th amendment
why did a lot of black Americans stay in the South
Many black Americans stayed in the South because:
- Life improved during Reconstruction, when black Southerners were given the vote and the presence of federal troops restrained white supremacism
- Migration was daunting to most freed slaves, who were illiterate or unskilled
- Northern employees and unions excluded black labour
What initiated the slow drift North
The end of Reconstruction and the development of Jim Crow laws initiated the slow drift North
How many black Mississippians migrated to Kansas in 1879
In 1879, 20,000 black Mississippian ‘Exodusters’ migrated from the South to Kansas
in 1880 what did the Senate blame the black migration on
In 1880 Senate committee investigation of black migration and blamed ‘unjust and cruel’ white Southerners who deprived black Americans of their rights
What was Chicago’s black population change between 1880-1900
Between 1880-1900 Chicago’s black population rose from 6,480 to 30,150
how did New York’s black population change between 1880-1900
Between 1880-1900 New York’s population rose from 65,000 to 100,000
what were the advantages for black Americans for life without the south
Advantages of life outside the South were
- Many had a better life in the North
- Migration helped generate greater race consciousness and activism
what were the disadvantages of life outside the South for black Americans
Disadvantage for life outside the south were
- Whites attacked the black population and colluded in various methods of race control
What were Northern whites methods of control
Northern white methods of race control included:
- Violence
- Gerrymandering
- By 1891, 30 states in North and West had adopted the secret ballot party in order to exclude illiterate black voters
- School boards promoted de facto segregation
- Labour unions excluded black workers
- White landowners and landlords usually refused to sell or rent homes to blacks in areas traditionally inhabited by whites
When was the First Great Migration
The First Great Migration was between 1910-30
How many black Americans moved during the First Great Migration
Around 1.6 million Black Americans moved during the First Great Migration
Why did Black Americans leave the south during the First Great Migration
Black Americans left the South because:
- Jim Crow
- The greater incidence of lynching in the south
- The over-dependence of parts of the South on the cotton crop
what is an example of gerrymandering
In 1897, Boston’s City Council redrew electoral districts to dispute the impact of the black vote
Why were black migrants attracted to the North
Black migrants were attracted to the North because
- More and better jobs were available
- Wages were higher especially during the WW1
- WW1 disrupted European immigrants so Northern employees were short on workers so hired Black Americans
- Migrants told Southern relatives and friends of more pay and less prejudice up North
- Black communities in Northern cities welcomed further migrants
What were the disadvantages of migration during the First Great Migration
Migration had disadvantages:
- Family, friends and surroundings were left behind
- Northern white racial prejudice could make it difficult to find employment
- The cost of living was higher
- Urban accommodation was harder to find, crowded and expensive
- Black migrants exacerbated racial tensions and there were many race riots
What was the wage difference between the North and the South wage
In 1918, a Northern factory worker could earn $3.25 daily, compared to the $0.75 for agricultural workers down South
what were the conditions in Northern ghettos
Northern ghettos were de facto segregated, overcrowded and violent, while housing and schools were poor
When was the Second great migration
The second great migration was between 1940-70
how many black Americans moved during the second great migration
Around 5 million black Southerners migrated North and West between 1940-70
what were the consequences of the second great migration
Consequences of the second great migration:
- Increasingly dense concentrations of black populations in Northern cities led to greater black consciousness and political power
- Dramatic changes in the racial composition of some cities and wartime overcrowding led to race riots
How did Chicago’s black population change between 1940-50
In 1940 Chicago’s black population was 250,000
- In 1950 Chicago’s black population was 500,000
How many black Americans worked in defence industries in 1941
In 1941 2 million black Americans worked in defence industries
What did A. Philip Randolph promise to make Washington to do
Black trade union leader A. Philip Randolph promised to bring Washington DC to a standstill forced President Roosevelt to promote equality in the defence industries
Why did black Americans return South
Many black Americans returned South because:
- Northern ghettos continued to deteriorate
- The South changed dramatically after the 1960s
- De Facto segregation was less pronounced in the South
- The South was less violent
- More black Americans held office in the South than any other region
- The cost of living was lower
- While the Northern rust belt was in decline businesses moved to the booming South where trade Unions had less power
- Many felt they were returning to their ancestral home
- The South had a more temperate climate
Reasons for mass migration to Harlem after 1905
Reasons for migration back to Harlem were
- Real estate was cheap so landlords didn’t pick and choose who to sell to
- Philip Payton bought black clients in through his Afro-American Realty Company
- Race riots in NY favoured by blacks, and demolition of black tenements led to blacks needing new homes
- Increasing numbers of black Southerners migrated North during the first Great Migration
What are the reasons why mass migration to Harlem was significant
Mass Migration to Harlem was significant because
- Between 1890 and 1920, NYC black population rose from 70,000 to 200,000 reflecting the demographic impact of the First Great Migration on urban demography
- Between 1920-30, around 100,000 black migrants arrived in Harlem but over 100,000 exited demonstrating the racial tensions that rose from the First Great Migration
- Concentration of a large number of black Americans a sense of togetherness
- The Great Migration made Harlem the unofficial black capital of the US
What are examples of leading organisations and activists based in Harlem
Examples of leading organisations and activists based in Harlem
- The NAACP’s Harlem chapter
- The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
- The United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
When was the NAACP’s Harlem chapter established
The NAACP’s Harlem chapter was established in 1910
What did the scholar W.E.B. Du Bois found
The scholar W.E.B. Du Bois founded the NAACP’s ‘The crisis magazine’ in 1910 and edited it until he retired in 1934
Who and when was the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters established
A. Philip Randolph, who in 1925 established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
Why was the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters important
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was important because it was the first significant black labour union
Who was the leader of the United Negro Improvement Association
Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born leader of the United Negro Improvement Association
When did Garvey move to Harlem
Marcus Garvey moved to Harlem in 1916
What did Marcus Garvey advocate for
Marcus Garvey advocated for black self-help, armed self-defence and the seperation of the races
What were the problems with Harlem
Harlem’s problems were
- Poor relations with black community and white police led to race riots
- Ill health caused by poverty
- Rents were high because blacks were unwelcomed in other parts of NYC
- Schools were overcrowded and decaying
- Cocaine addiction, prostitution and homicides were common
- Most Harlemites were unskilled workers and unemployment’s were particular bad during the great depression
- Even when there were black jobs available in NYC, white racism made it difficult for black workers
How many Harlemites were unemployed in 1941
one-third of Harlemites were unemployed in 1941
How many Harlemites were working in war-related jobs
142 Harlemites out of the 30,000 war-related jobs available were working in war-related jobs
What did the Fair Employment Practice Commission do for black workers
The Fair Employment Practices Commission, increased black employment opportunities in defence industries
Why did President Roosevelt pass the Fair Employment Practices Commission
President Roosevelt passed it in response to A. Philip Randolph’s march on Washington
Who was Malcom X
Malcolm X was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement.
What movements did Harlemites support in the 1950s
Harlemites were impressed by Malcom X and the Nation of Islam in the 1950s
What was the Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a religious and political organization which was founded in the United States
What movement did the Harlemites support in the 1960s
Harlemites were enthusiastic about the Black Power Movement in the 1960s
What was the Black Power Movement
The Black Power movement was a social movement motivated by a desire for safety and self-sufficiency that was not available inside redlined African American neighbourhoods.
How many cities experienced race riots after WW1
Soon after WW1 ended hundreds were killed in race riots across 25 cities
Where were the worst riots located soon after WW1
The worst riots were in Chicago
When were the Chicago riots
The Chicago riots were in 1919
What were the causes of the Chicago riots
The 1919 Chicago riots were due to
- White resentment at the increasing number of black Americans in Chicago
- White opposition to black Americans moving into white neighbourhoods
- Returning white servicemen viewing blacks as competition for housing and jobs
- White resentment over increasing black political influence in local elections
- An incident on Lake Michigan beach
How black Americans arrived in Chicago between 1910-20
Around 50,000 arrived between 1910-20
Who was Chicago’s first black alderman
Oscar De Priest became Chicago’s first black alderman in 1915
How did Eugene Williams die
In 1919, Eugene Williams accidentally strayed into the ‘white’ section of a segregated Chicago beach that extended into Lake Michigan. Whites stoned him, black Chicagoans protested and white police arrested them.
What happened in the two weeks of rioting after Eugene Williams death
Eugene Williams death triggered two weeks of rioting in which
- Irish and Polish workers, police officers and the military viciously attacked black ghetto residents
- 15 whites and 25 blacks were killed, 500 people were injured and white mobs set fire to and destroyed the homes of over 1,000 black families
What did the governor of Illinois report on the violence blame the riots on
The report blamed the riots on
- White police mistreatment of black Americans
- Ghetto living conditions
- Increasing black ‘race consciousness’
What were the causes of the Tulsa race riots
The causes of the Tulsa race riots were
- White Oklahoman opposition to racial mixing
- Returning black veterans believed that they should be treated equally
- White residents of Tulsa resented black prosperity
- In 1921, tensions rose amidst rumours that a black male had assaulted a white female
- Blacks and whites armed themselves
What were the consequences of the Tulsa riots
- Over 1,000 black houses were burned down
- Around 10,000 black Americans were left homeless
- Possibly as many as 300 black Americans died
- Up to 800 whites were injured
What did the Great Migration accelerate
The Great Migration accelerated the development of de facto segregation and the large black inner city ghettos
When did Americas worst ghetto riots occur
Americas worst ghetto riots occurred in the years 1964-68
Who did whites blame for the race riots of the summers between 1964-68
Whites blamed black extremists such as Malcom X
What did Malcom say in July 1964
In July 1964 he said America would ‘see a bloodbath’
When were the watts riots
The watts riots were in 1965
where was the watts ghetto
Watts is a ghetto in Los Angeles
what were the consequences of the watts riots
Consequences of Watts riots
- Black mobs set fire to several blocks of stores
- 34, died
- 100 were injured
- 3,500 looters and rioters were arrested
- $40 million worth of damage to white businesses
Why did the black Americans riot
Black Americans rioted because
- Ghetto residents felt the end of segregation and the guarantee of voting rights in the South was no help to them.
- King told the press that Watts was basically the revolt of an economic underclass
When were the Newark riots
The Newark riots were in the summer of 1967
Where is Newark
Newark is in Ney Jersey
What was the cause of the Newark riots
The underlying cause of the riots was poverty and deprivation
Why did the white blame the riots on the black power movement
The whites blamed the black power movement because the riots broke out the day after the announcement of plans for Black Power conference in Newark
What was the trigger of the Newark riots
The trigger was police brutality against local cab driver
What happened during the Newark riots
During the Newark riots
- Snipers fired at white police officers
- Families stole household goods from ruined stores
- Black residents accused the National Guard and state troopers of indiscriminately shooting looters
Who called the National Guard during the Newark
The National Guard was called in by the city authorities and state governor
What were the consequences of the Newark riot
Over 20 died and hundreds were injured during the Newark riots
What did the New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes describe the Newark riots as
New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes described the Newark riots as ‘plain and simple crime’
What did the NAACP blame the Watts riots on
The NAACP blamed the riots on poverty and slum life
What was Newark the first major North-Eastern city to do
In 1970, Newark became the first major North-Eastern city to elect a black mayor
Why did ghetto conditions remain dire in Newark
Ghetto conditions remained dire because white flight had eroded Newark’s tax base.
Who commissioned the Kerner report
President Johnson commissioned the Kerner Report on the widespread rioting
What did the Kerner report blame the rioting on
The report blamed
- Economic and social deprivation
- Oppressive white police officers
- Unsympathetic white authorities
