The Progressive Era and the Roaring Twenties (1896-1929)

Question 1

What was the leadership of the civil rights movement like during this period?

Answer 1

1. Activists did not have clear strategies
2. Activists did not have a united front until the formation of the NAACP
3. Activists disagreed with each other’s approaches and campaigned for different things

Question 2

When was the NAACP formed?

Answer 2

1909

Question 3

What was the significance of the formation of the NAACP?

Answer 3

It was the first major organisation to promote civil rights effectively and gave the movement a united front.

Question 4

What did the NAACP do?

Answer 4

They targeted segregation, voting rights and education opportunities through litigation. They had a role in landmark cases, such as Brown vs Board and Little Rock.

Question 5

What were the negative aspects of the NAACP?

Answer 5

1. They had limited speaking opportunities in the South
2. It was run by middle class AAs and whites so was not representative of the majority of blacks who were socially and economically deprived.
3. Opposition to organisation in both the North and South

Question 6

What was the situation like for African Americans in the early 1920s?

Answer 6

1. Segregation continued and education issues were still prevalent
2. The federal government was less focused on civil rights progress as they didn’t want to affect relations with the South
3. Poor, unskilled AAs more focused on survival rather than CR.

Question 7

How did the Great Depression affect African Americans?

Answer 7

1. Unemployment between 30-60%
2. Whites moves into jobs formally dominated by by blacks
3. AAs hired last and fired first
4. 2 million black farmers displaced as crop prices fell