History - USA - Race and Religion

• What is meant by the term 'religious fundamentalism'?

  Where a religion seeks to perceive the bible in a literal manner; almost God-fearing.
• What does the phrase 'Bible Belt' refer to?

  The south east of the USA where America's most rural and religious people lived during the 1920s.
• What formation did religious fundamentalists follow?

  The World's Christian Fundamentals association.

  Believed that the contents of the bible should never be questioned.
• What societal changes did rural American's abhor during the 1920s?

  Gambling, provocative clothing (flappers) and dancing - they perceived this as a decline in America's moral standards.
• Who was a leading religious fundamentalist during this period?

  Aimee Semple McPherson.

  - She went around the USA (early 20s) raising money for her church: Four Square Gospel Church.

  She was capable of raising $1.5 million in 1921 for the building of her Angelus Temple.
• What was Charles Darwin's theory of evolution?

  A theory that stated that over a period of millions of years, human beings had evolved from ape-like creatures.
• What was the 'Butler Act'?


  1924 - state of Tennessee passed the act.

  This made it illegal for any public schools to teach 'any theory which denied the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the bible.'

  It was illegal to teach Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
• What did John Scopes do?


  A biology teacher - challenged the ban.

  He deliberately taught the theory of evolution in his class in Tennessee in order to be arrested to be put on trial.
• When did the Monkey Trial take place?

  July 1925.
• Who defended John Scopes and who was the prosecutor during the Monkey Trial?

  Defence: Clarence Darrow - famous criminal lawyer. Prosecution: William Jennings Bryan - fundamentalist.
• How did the Monkey Trial unfold?


  Scopes was convicted of breaking the law and fined $100.
• Why was the Monkey Trial a disaster for the fundamentalists reputation?

  It became a debate between science and religion.

  Bryan was perceives as ignorant, while the media mock those who opposed the theory of evolution.

  The fundamentalist's viewpoint was seen as an attempt to stifle freedom.
• What lead to the harsh treatment of Native Americans?

  Only seen when demonstrating Indian crafts.

  Speaking Indian languages.

  Performing in stereotypical Indian costumes.
• What were Native Americans forced to do?

  They were forced onto reservations.

  1924 - Indian Citizenship Act was passed - granted full American citizenship to America's native people.
• What programme did the Eugenics project?


  States of Vermont and New Hampshire.

  A programme that managed Native Americans and other 'undesirables', by means of social plannings, education and reproductive control.
• How were Native Americans treated?


  White reformers argued that they would only survive if they 'rejected' they rejected their culture.

  Therefore, boarding schools were established - Native American children were forced to attend these boarding school; they were forced away from their families and culture.
• What were the boarding schools for Native Americans established to do?

  Children were taught how to destroy their identity of their tribes.

  Encouraged not to speak their own language.

  To convert to Christianity.
• What were the boarding schools for Native Americans like?

  1928 - Meriam Report prepared for American Government.

  It stated:

  Schools were underfunded.

  Schools were understaffed.

  Schools were run too harshly.

  The report that the programme should be dropped.
• What conclusion did the Meriam Report come to?


  That the Native Americans and should be provided with the skills and education for life in their own traditional rural communities as well as American urban society.
• What does the term segregation define?

  The action or state of setting someone or something apart from others.
• Why was the population of black Americans larger than the population of white Americans in southern states by 1860?


  Black people were brought to America as slaves in the seventeenth centuries and eighteenth centuries - slavery was abolished in 1860.
• What did the large population of black Americans lead to?

  White - controlled state governments began to fear the power black Americans may equip due to their mass population.
• What were the Jim Crow Laws?


  Controlled black American's freedom.

  Segregation took place in schools, parks, hospitals, swimming pools, libraries and a multitude of other public areas.
• What was life like for black people in the 1920s?


  They found it difficult to seek fair treatments.

  They weren't permitted to vote.

  Denied access to any credible employment opportunities - no goo educational opportunities.

  They were forced to live in ghettos and unhygienic areas.

  * 360000 black Americans served in the First World War only to return to a society ruled by racism.
• How many black Americans were lynched in 1915 - 1922?

  430.
• When was the Ku Klux Klan established?

  1860s - soldiers who had fought in the American Civil War - died down in 1870.

  Regained popularity during 1915 - The Birth of a Nation (film).
• Why did the Ku Klux Klan's member rise in 1915?


  Film: "The Birth of a Nation" - crated the concept of white supremacy.

  A reaction to immigrants and migrants entering America.
• What was the Ku Klux Klan?

  A hate group that solely believed in white supremacy in America. They were a group that wanted to destroy and other race other that WASPs in America, which they tried to do so by engaging in activities such as lynching.

  A group that perceived themselves as superior to all other races.
• What were the beliefs of the Ku Klux Klan?


  They believed then (white, Anglo- Saxon Protestants) were superior to all other races.

  They were: anti communist, anti-black, anti-Jew, anti-Catholic and against all foreigners.
• What did the Ku Klux Klan members wear and why?


  Dressed in white robes and wore white hoods - designed to conceal their identity.

  White colour: symbolises white supremacy .

  Carried around American flags and lit burning crosses at their night-time meetings.
• Who was the leader of the Ku Klux Klan?

  Dentist called Hiram Wesley Evans - known as the Imperial Wizard.
• How did the Ku Klux Klan membership change over the years?


  1920 - 100,000 members.

  1925 - 5 million (over)

  Attracted members all over the USA - especially in the south.
• Why did the membership values increase?

  Industrialisation - brought more workers to cities.

  Majority of the workers were immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe or black American migrants.

  Southern whites resented the arming of black soldiers during the First World War.
• What activities did the Ku Klux Klan partake in?


  Lynching of black people.

  Beat and mutilated anyone they considered to be their enemy.

  Stripped some of their victims and put tar and feathers on their bodies.
• Give some examples of the Ku Klux Klan's activities.


  1921 - Chris Lochan (restaurant owner) was run out of town because he was accused of being a foreigner. His parents were Greek.

  October 1933 - George Armwood, a mentally disabled black man was accused of assaulting an 82 year old white woman. His body was beaten to death whilst dragged from jail, then dragged through town.
• Why did the membership of the Klan decline? 


  The leader was convicted of rape (1925) and the judge found evidence of illegal activity surrounding the Klan.

  This destroyed the reputation, leading to the decline.
• What was no action taken against the Klan?


  Some states - believed that federal government had no right to interfere with he Klan's activities.

  Many politicians knew if they opposed the group, they would lose votes.

  Some were threatened to join.
• What was the 'Great Migration'?


  Segregation didn't exist in the northern states, therefore many balck people moved there for jobs.

  1916-20 - 1 million black Americans fled.
• What were the living conditions like for black people in the south?


  Given low-paid jobs.

  Lived in squalid ghettos.

  Faced racial intolerance.

  In New York and Chicago they often lived in poorer housing and paid higher rents.
• What company gave black Americans employment opportunities?


  The Ford Motor Company (Pittsburgh and Detroit).

  1916 - 50 employed.

  1926 - 10,000 employed.