WW1 - African-Americans Flashcards
Sum up the impact that the war had on blacks in society?
WW1 had a major impact but there was no smooth path towards integration and equality, despite the high hopes expressed at the beginning of US involvement.
Describe the positive impacts.
There was a heightened sense of black identity and pride, and there was also an increase in social mobility.
Why did black people volunteer for the armed forces?
They were encouraged by the patriotic rhetoric about a ‘war for democracy’.
What did economic shifts caused by the war stimulate?
Significant northward migration: there was a flow of 330,000 Southern black people to Northern cities such as NYC and Chicago.
How did the war bring about a new black consciousness?
Black soldiers came home from Europe, with widened horizons, hardened by war, and with greater political awareness.
What organisation had a huge expansion?
Huge expansion in membership of the NAACP especially in the South. Assertive black leaders like WEB Du Bois gained wide support for challenging the old ways.
Why were there still obstacles for black people still to overcome? Describe the soldiers’ experience
Black soldiers experienced hostility from white segregationists in the armed forces. Harsh accusations that black soldiers had fought badly and their black officers were cowardly. Black workers in Northern cities also suffered discrimination.
Where did Black workers find work during the war?
In the North, filling the gap created by conscription and the halt of mass immigration since 1914.
Describe the relationship between the trade unions and african americans.
Trade union leaders had some success enrolling black workers and showing solidarity with them. This solidarity was dissipated in the strikes and unrest of 1919.
When did racial tensions explode?
With a ‘race war’ in St Louis in July 1919. Race riots spread to Omaha and other cities.
