To Kill A Mockingbird Context

Jim Crow Laws

• laws in the Southern United States that enforced racial segregation

• they lasted from the late 1870s to mid 20th century

• they mandated separate facilities for black and white people

• this included schools, hospitals, transportation and public accommodations such as water fountains and restrooms

The Scottsboro Trials

• the prosecution of 9 black youths falsely accused of raping 2 white women

• the 9 of them were nearly lynched but were brough to trial in April 1931, just 3 weeks after their arrests

• Originally, all were convicted, but after years of legal battles, 5 convictions were overturned and the other 4 defendants received pardons

Racial Injustice in 1930s America

• black people were paid less than their white counterparts and they had to work harder than everyone else, often receiving ‘dirty work’

• the lynching (hanging) of black people was common and the KKK still had a lot of power

The Great Depression

• severe global economic downturn from 1929 - 1939

• high rates of unemployment and poverty

• triggered partially by the Wall Street Crash, a stock market crash in October 1929

• the South in the US was already the poorest region in the US, and the Great Depression worsened the widespread poverty and economic hardship

• led to big social changes

• 13 million people became unemployed

• people were so poor, they had to queue for bread and water

Harper Lee

• A.C Lee was her father - a lawyer, he was the primary inspiration

• Harper Lee was a tomboy - like Scout

• The 1919 Murder Trial - seven years before H.L was born, he defended two black men who were accused of murdering a white storekeeper

Southern Pride

• many white people were very proud of their traditions, social hierarchy and ‘way of life’

• 1. white healthy 2. poor whites 3. black people

Confederacy + the Civil War

• the American Civil War was fought between the United States of America and the Confederates States of America

• The Confederates States of America were a collection of 11 southern states that left the Union in 1860 and 1861

• The conflict began as a result of longstanding disagreements and slavery

Civil Rights Movements

• book was published in 1960 and novel contributed to the broader cultural conversation about justice and equality

• The Civil Rights aimed to give African Americans the same citizenship rights that white people took for granted

Scottsboro Trials link

Tom Robinson Trial

• all white jury

• no strong evidence

• miscarriage of justice

• shows broken legal system

Jim Crow Laws link

Calpurnia + her being educated

• Cal and her son Zebo are among the few literate blacks

• demonstrated by lack of hymn books at church

• highlights Maycomb’s poverty and separation

• highlights the remaining lack of schools for black children

Racial Injustice in 1930s link

Atticus defending Tom

• he knows it is doomed from the start

• the legal system will never give Tom his deserved justice because he is black

Harper Lee link

Atticus’ Character

• based on her dad

Southern Pride link

‘Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a glove’
- she enjoys her hierarchy and for her part of the draw of being in a small town is feeling superior to everyone else

Confederacy and Civil War link

Alabama was a member of the confederacy

• needed slavery because of farming to keep costs down

Civil Rights Movement link

• book was published in 1960s

The Great Depression link

Cunnighams’s pay Atticus with hickory nuts

• farmers were hit the hardest by the Great Depression

• the Cunningham kids skip school to help on the farm