Anti-Lynching laws

Created by

Euan C

Cards (36)

How many lynchings occurred in the early 1900s?
Between 1901-1929 there were over 1200 Americans lynched in the South
How many lynchings occurred in Georgia?
Between 1901-1929 there were 250 lynchings
How many lynchings occurred in Mississippi?
Between 1901-1929 there were 255 lynchings
Which group was an advocate for anti-lynching laws?
The NAACP campaigned for congressional anti-lynching laws
Who was an advocate for anti-lynching in the NAACP?
James Johnson
Who was a member of Congress who supported anti-lynching laws?
Republican Leonidas Dyer
Where did Leonidas Dyer represent?
A district in St Louis which contained increasing numbers of black Americans
What did Dyer introduce?
He introduced an anti-lynching law to the House of Representatives in 1918
When was the riot in St. Louis?
May 1917
What was the impetus for the St Louis riot?
White mobs attacked black workers over competition over jobs and police brutality
How many police officers were killed?
2 white police officers
How many black Americans were killed?
35 black people died, rioters openly targeted and lynched black people
What did the national guard do?
They were brought in to quell riots and instead participated in violence against black people or did nothing to stop violence
Why did the black population of St. Louis increase?
Many black Americans migrated from the South, settling in St. Louis where industrialisation meant a strong economy and increased jobs
What did Leonidas Dyer wish to do?
Protect his citizens and constituents
What bill did Dyer introduce in 1918?
The Dyer Anti-Lynching law
What is a Filibuster? 
An action which prevents the legal process from happening
What is an example of a Filibuster?
Prolonged talking
What defeated the anti-lynching bills?
The white Democratic voting bloc of the South
When was the bill defeated in the Senate?
December 1922, in 1923 and 1924
With how many votes did the anti-lynching bill pass through the House of Reps in 1919?
231-119
What is Quorum? 
The minimum number required for the House of Representatives to conduct business
What was created in 1919 to help with lynchings?
A Commission on Interracial Cooperation (CIC)
What was the CIC meant to do? 
Promote better relations and to end lynchings
When did the CIC publish its findings?
1933
What coincided with the CIC's findings?
The NAACP proposed 2 anti-lynching bills
Why was Roosevelt unwilling to support the anti-lynching bills?
He was unwilling to challenge the power of the southern Democrats and feared that anti-lynching laws would alienate them
Who tried to introduce anti-lynching laws in the 1930s?
Joseph Gavagan
Where did Gavagan represent?
The black American area of Harlem
When did Gavagan attempt to introduce anti-lynching bills?
1937 and 1938
What had appeared in the news prior to Gavagan's anti-lynching bills?
A high profile case of lynching involving torture with gasoline blow torches
What was the result of the Gavagan anti-lynching bill?
It passed through the House of Reps but was defeated by the Senate
When else was Gavagan's anti-lynching bill defeated?
1940
How was leadership with committees based?
It was based upon seniority meaning many had Democrats as leaders and so made little progress
What did Democrats' importance in committees enable them to do?
To block any legislation they opposed
How much power did Democrats have over committees?
They had over half the committee chairmanships and control of the key committees