TRUMAN: CIVIL RIGHTS Flashcards
1
Q
Civil rights prior to 1945
A
- Black people were discriminated against in employment, education & housing
- They were given the right to vote in the constitution - white people did everything they could to disenfranchise black Americans, eg poll tax and literay tests. They couldn’t change things legally without the vote
- Plessy vs Ferguson - Supreme Court ruled unanimously that segregation was constitutional - ‘separate, but equal’
- Jim Crow laws were legal
2
Q
The politcal situation for African-Americans
A
- Few could vote in the south & congressmen halted legislation to help black people
- Whites dominated local politics
- More could vote up north and some blak offcials were elected
3
Q
The social situation for African Americans
A
- In south it was de jure segregation enshrined in the Jim Crow laws and there was no production from law enforcement
- In north it was de facto segregation as whites had no desire to live near black people
4
Q
The economic situation for African Americans
A
Mostly sharecropping and menial jobs in the south; better employment opportunities in the north but still disproportionately poor and whites got priority on the job market, rent were higher in ghettos than in white neighbourhoods
5
Q
The Great Migration
A
- Over six million black people moved to cities in the North, Midwest and West for better employment opportunities
- In 1910, 89% of black Americans lived in the south: by 1970, 53%
- Worsened rae relations in Northern cities - resurgence of KKK
- Competition for jobs/housing and resentment over increasing black political influence led to serious racial violence
- Urbanisation helped to increase black consciousness and community
6
Q
Impact of WW2 on civil rights: reception of black soldiers in Europe
A
- Northern black soldiers stationed in the south frequently defied Jim Crow Law, felt that they deserved greater respect - in 1943, a black soldier refused to move to the back of the bys when ordered, was arrested along with 24 black passengers who supported him
- Hundereds of thousands of black servicemen fought German/Japanese oppression and came back to fight US oppression
- Many benefitted from GI Bill of Rights - record numbers attended college, imporving employment opportunities and articulation
- Black servicemen were astonished by their reception in Europe - seen as liverators regardless of colour - status enhanced - revelation to those raised in fear in the south
7
Q
Migration
A
- Many moved from south to jobs in the defence industries in the north & west coast
- Denser concentration of population in urban areas led to greater political power & community
8
Q
Close proximity to whites
A
- Blacks and whites worked together more during war, causing tensions
- Alabama Dry Dock company employed black workers - jealousy over best jobs and opposition to them working with white women
9
Q
Increased activism and opportunities
A
- NAACP was established in the early 20th century to campaign for racial equality
- During wartime, membership rose from 50,000 – 450,000
- Wartime propaganda about democracy contributed - Rosa Parks resented that her brother had to fight for a country he couldn’t vote in
- War improved blak bargaining power - A. Philip Randolph wnless there was black equality in the workplace, forcing Roosevelt to establish the Fair Employment Practices Commission, employing 2 million African-Americans
10
Q
Black Activists
A
- Thurgood Marshall - lawyer who successfully challenged ‘separate but equal,’ won many rulings, outspoken against aggressive civil rights leaders
- A. Philip Randolph - forced Roosevelt to establish FEPC in 1940, pressurised Truman into desegregating military, masterminded the march on Washington
- Adam Clayton Powell - won seats on the New York City council, elected to congress, reelected 12 ties to House of Representatives, became chairman of House Committee on Education and Labour - rejected due to scandals
11
Q
Organisations
A
- CORE - Congress of Racial Equality, organised wartime sit-ins
- NAACP - National Association for the Advanement of Coloured People, litigation strategy which challenged ‘separate but equal’
- Dramatic upsurge in black activism after the war
- 1/5 of the adult black population voted in Georgia’s gubernatorial election in 1946
- Resurgent white supremacy halted black activism in Georgia
- Local black activism continued to flourish in Louisiana & Mississippi
- Mississippi Progressive Voters’ League attracted 5000 members in a year
12
Q
Achievements of civil rights movement
A
- 1947 Journey of Reconciliation - CORE organised to test interstate travel - generated substantial media interest in desegregation
NAACP took cases to the Supreme Court over segregation such as
* 1950 Sweatt v Painter - education, ruled ‘separate but equal’ law school wasn’t equal to the white University of Texas law school
By 1952, only 5 states retained poll taz, 11 states and 20 cities had fair employment laws, 19 states had legislation against some form of racism
13
Q
Truman’s success in civil rights
A
- Established The President’s Committee on Civil Rights in 1946; a year later it released ‘To Secure These Rights,’ a scathing attack on racism in the north and south
- 1948 - gave an anti-racism speech to congress about lynching and dening voter registration
- 1948 - executive orders to end discrimination in armed forces
- 1948 - executive order established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance, which put pressure on companies with federal contracts to end discrimination
13
Q
Limitations on civil rights
A
- Truman never obtained civil rights legislation through congress
- Failed to get congressional approval for continuation of the FEPC
- recommendations from ‘To Secure These Rights,’ e.g. anti-lynching legislation, voting rights laws, abolition of poll tax, establishment of the US Commission on Civil Rights were all ignored by congress
- But he put it on the political agenda
- Nothing done about de facto segregation
14
Q
Opposition from fellow Democrats
A
- Opposition from fellow Democrats, e.g extreme racists like Strom Thurmond and James O Eastland
- Didn’t want to lose pro-segregation votes and so balked at the idea of concessions to the civil rights movement
- Used defence of State righs from federal government to cover their racism
15
Q
Republicans
A
- Republican saw no need to engage political self-interest
- Eisenhower barely mentioned it in his election campaign
- However, internationally segregatonist attitudes were damaging the US reputation, and the collapse of European empire meant new independent states could be alienated in the UN
