Segregation and Segregation and DiscriminationDiscrimination

African AmericansAfrican Americans

1865-19201865-1920

ReconstructionReconstruction After the Civil War, the nation After the Civil War, the nation

entered Reconstructionentered Reconstruction– Period of positive social and Period of positive social and

political participation for political participation for African Americans African Americans

Amendments: Amendments: – 1313thth Amendment- 1865: Amendment- 1865:

Ended slavery in the United Ended slavery in the United StatesStates

– 1414thth Amendment- 1868: Amendment- 1868: extended the rights of extended the rights of citizenship to all those born in citizenship to all those born in the USthe US

– 1515thth Amendment- 1870: Amendment- 1870: extended voting rights to extended voting rights to African American malesAfrican American males

What next?What next? African Americans took African Americans took

advantage of their new advantage of their new freedom to move to freedom to move to Southern towns and cities Southern towns and cities where they could find jobswhere they could find jobs

Former slaves sought Former slaves sought education. education. – The Freedmen’s Bureau The Freedmen’s Bureau

helped organize schools, helped organize schools, colleges and universitiescolleges and universities

African Americans founded African Americans founded their own churches and their own churches and African American ministers African American ministers emerged as influential emerged as influential community leaderscommunity leaders

Promises Made, Promises BrokenPromises Made, Promises Broken 40 Acres and a Mule- 40 Acres and a Mule-

1865, General Sherman 1865, General Sherman promised former slaves promised former slaves who followed his army who followed his army 40 acres per family and 40 acres per family and the use of army mulesthe use of army mules– 40,000 freed persons settled 40,000 freed persons settled

on 400,000 acres in Georgia on 400,000 acres in Georgia and South Carolinaand South Carolina

– August 1865- Pres. Johnson August 1865- Pres. Johnson ordered the original ordered the original landowners be allowed to landowners be allowed to reclaim their landreclaim their land

– Freed African Americans Freed African Americans asserted they deserved part of asserted they deserved part of the planters’ land, but the planters’ land, but Congress rejected their claimsCongress rejected their claims

SharecroppingSharecropping Sharecropping- landowners Sharecropping- landowners

divided land and gave each divided land and gave each head of household a few head of household a few acres, seed and tools. Plots acres, seed and tools. Plots were small so crop yields were small so crop yields were lowwere low

Farmers entered a cycle of Farmers entered a cycle of poverty and debtpoverty and debt

Sharecroppers kept a small Sharecroppers kept a small portion of their crops and portion of their crops and gave the rest to the gave the rest to the landowners. System was landowners. System was little better than slaverylittle better than slavery

Sharecropperis given landand seed by landowner

Sellsremainingcrop at market

Pays off accounts

withmerchants

Buys foodand clothing

on credit

Plants crops

Harvests cropsand giveslandownerhis share

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan KKK- Southern vigilante KKK- Southern vigilante

group that sought to curb group that sought to curb black education, black education, economic advancement, economic advancement, and voting rightsand voting rights

Used terrorism, violence Used terrorism, violence and acts of intimidation and acts of intimidation to oppress African to oppress African AmericansAmericans

The KKK and other The KKK and other secret groups killed secret groups killed several thousand men, several thousand men, women, and children, women, and children, mostly African Americanmostly African American

Reconstruction endsReconstruction ends

1876- brought an end to Reconstruction and 1876- brought an end to Reconstruction and the removal of federal support for African the removal of federal support for African Americans in the South.Americans in the South.

Congress did not protect the rights of African Congress did not protect the rights of African Americans and the Supreme Court undermined Americans and the Supreme Court undermined them.them.

When Reconstruction ended, Southern whites When Reconstruction ended, Southern whites instituted laws to subject African Americans to instituted laws to subject African Americans to second-class citizenship second-class citizenship

Voting RestrictionsVoting Restrictions Southern states adopted a system Southern states adopted a system

of racial discriminationof racial discrimination– Literacy Tests- voters had to pass a Literacy Tests- voters had to pass a

test in order to vote. test in order to vote. Blacks were asked more difficult Blacks were asked more difficult

questions questions Administrators could pass or fail Administrators could pass or fail

applicants as they wishedapplicants as they wished– Poll tax- annual tax that had to be Poll tax- annual tax that had to be

paid to votepaid to vote– Grandfather clause- if a man failed Grandfather clause- if a man failed

the literacy test or could not pay the the literacy test or could not pay the tax, he could vote if he, his father, or tax, he could vote if he, his father, or his grandfather could vote in 1867.his grandfather could vote in 1867.

Allowed poor whites to voteAllowed poor whites to vote No African American could vote No African American could vote

in 1867, so they were excludedin 1867, so they were excluded The 15The 15thth amendment did not amendment did not

guarantee the right to vote. It just guarantee the right to vote. It just made it illegal to use a person’s made it illegal to use a person’s race as a reason to deny the right race as a reason to deny the right to vote.to vote.

– All the voting restrictions applied to All the voting restrictions applied to all Southerners regardless of raceall Southerners regardless of race

Jim CrowJim Crow Jim Crow Laws- named for a Jim Crow Laws- named for a

minstrel show character minstrel show character – Minstrel shows were a form of Minstrel shows were a form of

musical entertainment in which musical entertainment in which whites in blackface poked fun at whites in blackface poked fun at the singing and dancing of the singing and dancing of African American slavesAfrican American slaves

These laws separated white and These laws separated white and black people in public and private black people in public and private facilitiesfacilities

Segregation- the system of Segregation- the system of separating people on the basis of separating people on the basis of race. Racial segregation race. Racial segregation developed in schools, hospitals, developed in schools, hospitals, parks, and transportation systemsparks, and transportation systems

Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson Homer A Plessy- 1/8Homer A Plessy- 1/8thth African African

American, denied a seat in a railroad American, denied a seat in a railroad car reserved for white passengers.car reserved for white passengers.

Challenged the Louisiana law that Challenged the Louisiana law that required railroad companies to required railroad companies to segregate white and black passengers.segregate white and black passengers.

He contended that the law denied him He contended that the law denied him his rights under Louisiana’s his rights under Louisiana’s constitution, and he took the issue to constitution, and he took the issue to courtcourt

1896- Court ruled that separation of 1896- Court ruled that separation of races in public accommodations was races in public accommodations was legal and did not violate the legal and did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment Fourteenth Amendment – ““Separate but equal”- allowed sates Separate but equal”- allowed sates

to maintain segregated facilities for to maintain segregated facilities for blacks and whites as long as they blacks and whites as long as they provided equal service. provided equal service.

– Permitted legalized racial Permitted legalized racial segregation for 60 years. segregation for 60 years.

Racial EtiquetteRacial Etiquette

Informal rules and customs regulated relationships Informal rules and customs regulated relationships between whites and blacks.between whites and blacks.

These customs belittled and humiliated African These customs belittled and humiliated African AmericansAmericans

African Americans had to show deference to whites, African Americans had to show deference to whites, including children, and endure humiliating treatmentincluding children, and endure humiliating treatment– Blacks and whites never shook handsBlacks and whites never shook hands

– Blacks had to yield the sidewalk to white pedestriansBlacks had to yield the sidewalk to white pedestrians

– Black men always had to remove their hats for whiteBlack men always had to remove their hats for white

ViolenceViolence Severe punishment met those who did not follow proper Severe punishment met those who did not follow proper

etiquetteetiquette– Offended whites could complain to African American employers and Offended whites could complain to African American employers and

the employee could lose a jobthe employee could lose a job Lynching- illegal execution without a trial carried out by a Lynching- illegal execution without a trial carried out by a

mobmob– 1885-1900: more than 2,500 African American men and women were 1885-1900: more than 2,500 African American men and women were

shot burned, or hanged without a trial in the Southshot burned, or hanged without a trial in the South– Blacks were often targeted for lynching if they showed signs of Blacks were often targeted for lynching if they showed signs of

becoming successful.becoming successful.– They were also in danger if they were accused of showing too little They were also in danger if they were accused of showing too little

respect for whites, especially white womenrespect for whites, especially white women Ida B. Wells and others fought a nationwide struggle to Ida B. Wells and others fought a nationwide struggle to

remove impediments to racial equalityremove impediments to racial equality

Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. Washington Born into slavery, he pursued an Born into slavery, he pursued an

education after he was freed. He headed education after he was freed. He headed the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial InstituteInstitute

Tuskegee provided students with Tuskegee provided students with courses in teaching, agriculture, courses in teaching, agriculture, domestic, and mechanical work. He domestic, and mechanical work. He supported technical and industrial supported technical and industrial training for African Americanstraining for African Americans

Washington suggested racial equality Washington suggested racial equality would be achieved when whites would be achieved when whites recognized the economic power of recognized the economic power of African AmericansAfrican Americans

Equality would come gradually- this Equality would come gradually- this approach appealed to white Americansapproach appealed to white Americans

““In all things that are purely social we can In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”- Atlanta Comprise address, progress.”- Atlanta Comprise address, 18951895

Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. Washington In 1895, Washington gave a speech at an exposition in Atlanta. In 1895, Washington gave a speech at an exposition in Atlanta.

Washington’s speech stressed accommodation rather than resistance Washington’s speech stressed accommodation rather than resistance to the racist order under which Southern African Americans lived. to the racist order under which Southern African Americans lived.

““There is no defense or security for any of us except in the There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all. If anywhere there highest intelligence and development of all. If anywhere there are efforts tending to curtail the fullest growth of the Negro, are efforts tending to curtail the fullest growth of the Negro, let these efforts be turned into stimulating, encouraging, and let these efforts be turned into stimulating, encouraging, and making him the most useful and intelligent citizen. Effort or making him the most useful and intelligent citizen. Effort or means so invested will pay a thousand per cent interest. These means so invested will pay a thousand per cent interest. These efforts will be twice blessed- blessing him that gives and him efforts will be twice blessed- blessing him that gives and him that takes.”that takes.”

W.E.B DuBoisW.E.B DuBois Born to a middle class family in Born to a middle class family in

Massachusetts, DuBois was the first Massachusetts, DuBois was the first African American to receive a doctorate African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard University.from Harvard University.

In 1909, he founded the National In 1909, he founded the National Association for the Advancement of Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which aimed Colored People (NAACP) which aimed for full equality among the races.for full equality among the races.

He believed blacks should seek a liberal He believed blacks should seek a liberal arts education so the African American arts education so the African American community would have well-educated community would have well-educated leadersleaders

DuBois proposed that a group of DuBois proposed that a group of education blacks, the most “talented education blacks, the most “talented tenth” of the African American tenth” of the African American community should attempt immediate community should attempt immediate inclusion into mainstream American lifeinclusion into mainstream American life

His views on race relations were the His views on race relations were the opposite of Washington’s.opposite of Washington’s.

W.E.B DuBoisW.E.B DuBois““We are Americans, not only by birth and by citizenship, but by our We are Americans, not only by birth and by citizenship, but by our

political ideals. . . And the greatest of those ideals is that ALL MEN political ideals. . . And the greatest of those ideals is that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.”ARE CREATED EQUAL.”

““Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”

““The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save us from a second slaver?”us from a second slaver?”

““All men cannot go to college but some men must; every isolated group All men cannot go to college but some men must; every isolated group or nation must have its yeast, must have for the talented few centers or nation must have its yeast, must have for the talented few centers of training where men are not so mystified and befuddles by the of training where men are not so mystified and befuddles by the hard and necessary toil of earning a living, as to have no aims higher hard and necessary toil of earning a living, as to have no aims higher than their bellies, and no God greater than Gold.”than their bellies, and no God greater than Gold.”

Discrimination in the NorthDiscrimination in the North

1900- small but growing number of African 1900- small but growing number of African Americans lived in northern cities. Americans lived in northern cities.

African Americans found themselves in African Americans found themselves in segregated neighborhoodssegregated neighborhoods

They faced discrimination in the workplace. They faced discrimination in the workplace. – Labor Unions denied them membershipLabor Unions denied them membership– Employers hired them only as a last resortEmployers hired them only as a last resort

Race RiotsRace Riots

Competition between Competition between African Americans and African Americans and working class whites could working class whites could become violent.become violent.– Race Riot of 1900- New Race Riot of 1900- New

York, a young black man, York, a young black man, Arthur J Harris, believing his Arthur J Harris, believing his wife was being mistreated by wife was being mistreated by a white policeman, killed the a white policeman, killed the policemanpoliceman

– Whites demanded revenge Whites demanded revenge and attacked blacks wherever and attacked blacks wherever they found themthey found them..