Higher History (USA Essay) - Reasons For Obstacles To Equality For Black People Up To 1941

Context / Background

American Civil War 1861-1865 - was about the expansion or end of slavery

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1863 - Emancipation Proclamation, all slaves in the South were freed and had equal rights to fight in the war

Five Factors

Legal Impediments (Most Important)

The KKK

Divisions In The Black Community

Lack Of Political Influence

Popular Prejudice In The North

Legal Impediments- Three Pieces Of Knowledge

North Carolina - books shall not be used between black and white schools but continue to be used by the race who used them first

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Florida — all marriages between white and black (up to 4th generation) to be banned

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(KU) Alabama - no white nurse was to treat a black person

(Analysis) North Carolina - books shall not be used between black and white schools but continue to be used by the race who used them first

This was important as it prevented black people from gaining the same level of education which prevents them from progressing and widens inequality

(Analysis) Florida — all marriages between white and black (up to 4th generation) to be banned

This was important as it lawfully stopped interracial marriage stopping equality for black people in terms of love

(Analysis / Evaluation) (KU) Alabama - no white nurse was to treat a black person

This was important as it stops black people getting the same healthcare and could lead to death

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Also, legal impediments expanded the idea of inequality due to the Jim Crow Laws that limited the opportunities for black people in the South and nationwide in terms of schools

The KKK - Three Pieces Of Knowledge

The KKK burned crosses outside of black people’s houses to cause fear

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1925 - Membership peaked at over 3 million members

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(KU) 1915 - KKK film ‘Birth Of A Nation’ was the first film showed at the White House by president Wilson

(Analysis / Analysis+) The KKK burned crosses outside of black people’s houses to cause fear

This was important as black people became fearful of white people and where they lived forcing many to leave

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This was less important as this did not happen to all black people meaning not all had to fear them

(Analysis / Analysis+) 1925 - Membership peaked at over 3 million members

This was important as it showed a wide scope of people wanted to prevent black peoples having equal rights

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This was less important as their membership declined after this due to scandals involving rape and murder discrediting the KKK and lowering their impact

(Analysis / Evaluation) (KU) 1915 - KKK film ‘Birth Of A Nation’ was the first film showed at the White House by president Wilson

This was important as the film being endorsed by the President made some in society treat people even worse and caused more inequality

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However, Legal Impediments were more important as they existed continuously throughout the time period unlike the KKK which caused more permanent inequality for black people

Divisions In The Black Community - Three Pieces Of Knowledge

Marcus Garvey - encouraged black people to embrace their culture and pride, also to liberate themselves from white culture

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William Du Bois - formed the NAACP in 1909 and focused on legal action to improve

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(KU) Booker. T Washington - established the Tuskegee Institute to give black children an education

(Analysis / Analysis+) Marcus Garvey - encouraged black people to embrace their culture and pride, also to liberate themselves from white culture

This was important as he isolated any black person who did support white culture and any white person who didn’t agree, increasing inequality

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This was less important as they had 4 million members in 1920 (UNIA) so there was some unity to press for change

(Analysis / Analysis+) William Du Bois - formed the NAACP in 1909 and focused on legal action to improve things

This was important as they failed to win over the mass of ordinary black people causing a lack of unity, stopping equality

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This was less important as there were 91,000 members in 1919 who were collectively pushing for legal change

(Analysis / Evaluation) (KU) Booker. T Washington - established the Tuskegee Institute to give black children an education

This was important as his views were highly criticised by other black leaders which caused a lack of unity to fight for equality

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However, Legal Impediments were more important as the laws would ultimately prevent any of these groups achieving equality as they had a lack of power to change laws and a lack of influence due to divisions

Lack Of Political Influence - Three Pieces Of Knowledge

Literacy tests were created that were impossible to pass to allow people to register to vote

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1898 - The Grandfather Clause in Louisiana was created which meant that illiterate men could vote if their father or grandfather could vote on the 1st of January 1867

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(KU) 1922 - Dyer Anti Lynching Bill was defeated in Senate causing lynching to continue

(Analysis / Analysis+) Literacy tests were created that were impossible to pass to allow people to register to vote

This was important as 2.5 million people were illiterate in 1900 so this widened equality

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This was less important as black people in the North could vote without restrictions meaning there was still black representation

(Analysis / Analysis+) 1898 - The Grandfather Clause in Louisiana was created which meant that illiterate men could vote if their father or grandfather could vote on the 1st of January 1867

This was important as black people did not have same rights as white people in 1867 therefore the Clause only benefited white people and discriminating black people further

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This was less important as there was still black representation in Congress like Hiram Rhodes Revels from 1870 so they were still getting voices heard

(Analysis / Evaluation) (KU) 1922 - Dyer Anti Lynching Bill was defeated in Senate causing lynching to continue

This was important as black people could still be lynched as a way to cause fear in people, and it was voted on by white people who were stopping equality

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However, Legal Impediments were more important as it stopped equality across the whole US rather than just Southern States like the voting limits. Also, Legal Impediments were created due to a lack of black representation

Popular Prejudice In The North - Three Pieces Of Knowledge

1910-1970 Over 6 million people migrated North

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1910-1930, the black population of Chicago rose from 44,103 to 233,903 (over 5 times)

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(KU) 1919 - In Chicago a riot lasted 13 days with 23 black and 15 whites people being killed

(Analysis / Analysis+) 1910-1970 Over 6 million people migrated North

This was important as this mass movement meant there was a lack of housing and black people ended up in ghettos and were blamed for the poor conditions / had poor conditions

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This was less important as this was a relatively low number therefore less impact or care about them and less different treatment limiting inequality

(Analysis / Analysis+) 1910-1930, the black population of Chicago rose from 44,103 to 233,903 (over 5 times)

This was important as the racial make up of cities changed and black people received unequal treatment like lower paid jobs

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This was less important as there were still opportunities for work in the North and some black people did earn the same

(Analysis / Evaluation) (KU) 1919 - In Chicago a riot lasted 13 days with 23 black and 15 whites people being killed

This is important as this prejudice lead to inequality and fear as black people were killed and made those who lived in Chicago not feel safe

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However, Legal Impediments were more important as these legal actions caused the Great Migration as black people were losing equality due to the Jim Crow Laws so moved North and this then caused the ghettos and race riots, therefore Legal Impediments caused these inequalities