The impact of WW2 on Soldiers and African Americans (North and South)- Truman

13. american dream booklet year 1

How were black American and white American soldiers treated differently during ww2?

-segregated

-Red Cross wouldn’t accept blood donations from black people

How were black soldiers treated by the British?

-well- saw them as liberators to the surprise of young black men

What did increased demand for workers in the US during ww2 lead to?

-the Great Migration of black workers to the North- work and good wages

What black newspapers became more popular?

The Chicago Defender ran the Double V campaign- linked victory of Nazis to racism in America

What civil rights groups grew/ were established post-war?

-NAACP grew

-CORE established- focus on racial equality in the North

What negatives for civil rights did ww2 cause?

-tensions -1943 race riot in Detroit caused 34 deaths

-against this the US army released “the Negro Soldier”

Where did most southern African Americans live?

-small towns, working in labour/agriculture under Jim Crow laws

What public facilities were segregated as a result of “Separate but equal” 1896?

-Education

-water fountains, waiting rooms, buses, cinemas

Why were many African Americans in the south scared to speak against the racism?

-couldn’t vote

-legacy of lynchings caused anxiety

-could lose their jobs

What were the only black people respected by white southerners?

Black preachers in the Church

What aspects meant there was still prejudice in the North?

-ghettoization, economic segregation and social pressure

What pushed many African Americans to move to the north?

-the KKK

-mechanisation of farming

-the Great Depression

-growing jobs in the North

How many African Americans moved to the North in the 40s and 50s?

-40s-1.4 million

-50s-1.1 million

Where did most Northern African Americans live?

-cramped city centre apartments with high rent and bad landlords

-some areas stopped them from living there so black people often lived in the same areas- De Facto

What did African Americans gaining political power in cities lead to?

the election of black people into the House of Representatives - eg Adam Clayton Powell- Harlem

What did African Americans living so close mean for civil rights groups?

-easier for civil rights groups to organise- increased memebrship

-eg NAACP or Nation of Islam

Which black artists and sportsmen began gaining wealth and recognition?

-Jackie Robinson- first black baseball player awarded most valuable 1949

-Joe Louis- heavyweight boxing champion for 12 years

-Louis Armstrong- musician- wealth and popularity

How were black relations with police in Northern cities?

-tense

-police used violence against them

What other system was harsher on black Americans?

the justice system- Malcolm X received a 10 year sentence for burglary, 1946