The changing geography of civil rights issues Flashcards
(80 cards)
how many black Americans were in America in 1850
4 million of Americans were black
where did the majority of black Americans live
The majority of black Americans lived in the South due to the restricted movement capabilities because of slavery
When were slaves freed
Slaves were freed in 1865 with the passing of the 13th amendment
why did a lot of black Americans stay in the South
Many black Americans stayed in the South because:
- Life improved during Reconstruction, when black Southerners were given the vote and the presence of federal troops restrained white supremacism
- Migration was daunting to most freed slaves, who were illiterate or unskilled
- Northern employees and unions excluded black labour
What initiated the slow drift North
The end of Reconstruction and the development of Jim Crow laws initiated the slow drift North
How many black Mississippians migrated to Kansas in 1879
In 1879, 20,000 black Mississippian ‘Exodusters’ migrated from the South to Kansas
in 1880 what did the Senate blame the black migration on
In 1880 Senate committee investigation of black migration and blamed ‘unjust and cruel’ white Southerners who deprived black Americans of their rights
What was Chicago’s black population change between 1880-1900
Between 1880-1900 Chicago’s black population rose from 6,480 to 30,150
how did New York’s black population change between 1880-1900
Between 1880-1900 New York’s population rose from 65,000 to 100,000
what were the advantages for black Americans for life without the south
Advantages of life outside the South were
- Many had a better life in the North
- Migration helped generate greater race consciousness and activism
what were the disadvantages of life outside the South for black Americans
Disadvantage for life outside the south were
- Whites attacked the black population and colluded in various methods of race control
What were Northern whites methods of control
Northern white methods of race control included:
- Violence
- Gerrymandering
- By 1891, 30 states in North and West had adopted the secret ballot party in order to exclude illiterate black voters
- School boards promoted de facto segregation
- Labour unions excluded black workers
- White landowners and landlords usually refused to sell or rent homes to blacks in areas traditionally inhabited by whites
When was the First Great Migration
The First Great Migration was between 1910-30
How many black Americans moved during the First Great Migration
Around 1.6 million Black Americans moved during the First Great Migration
Why did Black Americans leave the south during the First Great Migration
Black Americans left the South because:
- Jim Crow
- The greater incidence of lynching in the south
- The over-dependence of parts of the South on the cotton crop
what is an example of gerrymandering
In 1897, Boston’s City Council redrew electoral districts to dispute the impact of the black vote
Why were black migrants attracted to the North
Black migrants were attracted to the North because
- More and better jobs were available
- Wages were higher especially during the WW1
- WW1 disrupted European immigrants so Northern employees were short on workers so hired Black Americans
- Migrants told Southern relatives and friends of more pay and less prejudice up North
- Black communities in Northern cities welcomed further migrants
What were the disadvantages of migration during the First Great Migration
Migration had disadvantages:
- Family, friends and surroundings were left behind
- Northern white racial prejudice could make it difficult to find employment
- The cost of living was higher
- Urban accommodation was harder to find, crowded and expensive
- Black migrants exacerbated racial tensions and there were many race riots
What was the wage difference between the North and the South wage
In 1918, a Northern factory worker could earn $3.25 daily, compared to the $0.75 for agricultural workers down South
what were the conditions in Northern ghettos
Northern ghettos were de facto segregated, overcrowded and violent, while housing and schools were poor
When was the Second great migration
The second great migration was between 1940-70
how many black Americans moved during the second great migration
Around 5 million black Southerners migrated North and West between 1940-70
what were the consequences of the second great migration
Consequences of the second great migration:
- Increasingly dense concentrations of black populations in Northern cities led to greater black consciousness and political power
- Dramatic changes in the racial composition of some cities and wartime overcrowding led to race riots
How did Chicago’s black population change between 1940-50
In 1940 Chicago’s black population was 250,000
- In 1950 Chicago’s black population was 500,000