Obstacles to Civil Rights

Factors

• legal impediment

• popular prejudice

• activities of the KKK

• lack of political influence

• divisions in the black community

Context

In 1865,

• After the American Civil war, slavery was abolished. In theory this should have meant all former slaves were now free American citizens, but this did not happen.

• After slavery was abolished, there was not much support for racial equality from any American politicians. President Johnson even vetoed the Civil Rights act of 1866.

Legal Impediments

The Jim Crow laws said there should be separate schools, public transport, restaurants, and toilets for black and white people. They also did not recognise mixed race marriages. These laws were passed in the southern states after the Civil War to maintain white superiority.

This was an important obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as these laws cemented the idea of black inferiority, making it more difficult for Black Americans to fight for their rights.

However, this was less of an obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as the Jim Crow laws mainly existed in South America.

Popular Prejudice

Many African Americans worked in low-paid, menial jobs. During the Great Depression, in some cities unemployment for African Americans reached 60%.

This was an important obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as most black Americans were more concerned about getting a job and escaping poverty so gaining civil rights was not a top priority for them.

However, this was less of an obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as attitudes in the North were beginning to change, this was evidenced by the decline in KKK memberships.

Popular Prejudice

Between 1900 and 1950, thousands of African Americans had moved to the North in search of better working and living conditions. By 1960 over 6 million people had migrated.

This was an important obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as there was a lot of competition for jobs and housing and allowed for black Americans to be blamed for any mistakes or wrong doings of others.

However, this was less of an obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as there were positive results of the migration such as an increase in arts and music movements.

Activities of the KKK

In 1915 the KKK reformed in Georgia and by the mid 20’s they had a membership of between 2 and 5 million people. They targeted Catholics, Jews and anyone who was not white and protestant, they also targeted anyone seen to be helping African Americans.

This was an important obstacle in achieving Civil Rights for black people as they were a huge influence in parts of the USA with large numbers of members and even managed to become influential in cities which had a large black population.

However, this was less of an obstacle in achieving Civil Rights for black people as they were not as prominent in some areas of the North although they were present in some big cities. The KKK also declined due to failures in leadership and internal feuding.

Lack of Political Influence

By 1915, black Americans were allowed to vote however laws such as the ‘Grandfather Clause’ were put in place to try and stop them. The ‘Grandfather Clause’ meant that you were not allowed to vote if your Grandfather was not registered to do so, most black Americans descended from enslaved people who were not able to register to vote.

This was an important obstacle in achieving Civil Rights for black people as if they cannot vote they have no power to vote people in who could make change in favour of them.

However, this was less of an obstacle to the achievement of Civil Rights for black people as it was not much of an issue in the Northern states, but they still had a larger percentage of black Americans who couldn’t vote.

Divisions in the Black Community

Booker T Washington argued that civil rights had to be earned and only well-educated black Americans should gain the vote. De Bois founded the NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, which was an organisation aiming to oppose discrimination through legal action.

This was an important obstacle in achieving civil rights for black people as these were significantly different men with vastly different views, this, in turn, split support and weakened the movement towards civil rights.

However, this was less of an obstacle to the achievement of civil rights for black people as the NAACP remained a successful association throughout and even inspired people such as Martin Luther King.