The Experience of African Americans

• Unfair Treatment


  The US Constitution states that everyone is equal, but many groups in America in the 1920s were not treated fairly. There was a great deal of prejudice against those who were not considered 'real' Americans.
• The Experience of African Americans


  Although slavery had ended in 1865, black Americans in the southern states suffered more discrimination than those in the north. This was because of the Jim Crow laws in the south.

  The Jim Crow laws legalised segregation and helped to keep black Americans in inferior positions in society, politics and the economy.
• What did Jim Crow laws enforce regarding the living conditions of white people and black Americans?

  They enforced segregation, requiring white people and black Americans to live separately.
• Which areas were affected by segregation under Jim Crow laws?

  Segregation affected churches, hospitals, theatres, schools, toilets, cemeteries, parks, and other public places.
• How were schools for black Americans treated under Jim Crow laws?

  Schools for black Americans were deliberately kept inferior to prevent their education and advancement in society.
• What barriers were placed on black Americans regarding voting?

  Voting was made difficult through poll taxes and literacy tests.
• What was a requirement for black Americans to vote related to poll taxes?

  They had to pay a poll tax, which many could not afford due to low wages.
• Why were literacy tests a barrier for black Americans voting?

  Literacy tests required individuals to read difficult extracts, but literacy levels were low among black Americans.
• What type of jobs were black Americans forced to work in under Jim Crow laws?

  They were forced to work in low paid, unskilled jobs.
• What were the main components of the Jim Crow laws that affected black Americans?

  • Segregation in public places
  • Inferior education for black Americans
  • Barriers to voting (poll taxes and literacy tests)
  • Employment in low paid, unskilled jobs
• In which decade did one million black Americans migrate from the South to the North?

  1920s
• What was the primary reason for the migration of black Americans from the South to the North?

  To look for work in the growing industrial cities
• Which cities did most black Americans migrate to during the 1920s?

  • New York
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
• How did life for black Americans in the North differ from life in the South during the 1920s?

  They faced discrimination and exploitation despite the absence of Jim Crow laws
• What types of jobs were black Americans typically given in the North?

  The most menial tasks
• What factors contributed to the menial jobs assigned to black Americans in the North?

  A combination of racism and poor education
• What percentage of black American women in Milwaukee worked as domestic servants?

  60 percent
• How did the wages of black Americans compare to those of white people doing the same job?

  Their wages did not match those of white people
• Where did black Americans live in the North during the 1920s?

  In squalid ghettos
• Music, Literature and Culture

  They expressed their frustrations at discrimination through their music and literature. Their culture flourished in the 1920s, especially in inner city areas, like Harlem in New York. Music, such as jazz, soul and blues, became popular. When jazz was banned in many cities, performers moved to the speakeasies. Thus, young white people were influenced by black American culture.
• When was the Ku Klux Klan founded?

  1865
• What was the primary belief of the Ku Klux Klan?


  They believed in the supremacy of white Protestants who were "native" to the USA.
• How many members did the KKK have in 1921?

  Over 100,000 members
• What was the peak membership of the KKK in the mid-1920s?

  5 million members
• Who was allowed to join the KKK?

  Only White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) could join.
• Which groups did the KKK discriminate against in the 1920s?

  They discriminated against black Americans, Roman Catholics, Jews, new immigrants, communists, and socialists.
• How did the KKK expand its geographical influence?

  It extended its operations to cover the entire nation, not just the south.
• What political influence did the KKK achieve?

  It expanded its political influence into key positions, including the Governorship of Alabama.
• What event in 1919 contributed to the growth of KKK membership?

  Race riots in 23 cities, such as Chicago.
• What fears did the KKK exploit to gain members?

  They exploited fears of mass immigration leading to unemployment, communism, corruption, alcohol abuse, and un-American ideas.
• What type of meetings did the KKK hold?

  They held night-time meetings, burning crosses and marching in white clothing with hoods.
• What violent actions did the KKK commit against minority communities?

  They violently attacked minority communities, murdered, and lynched individuals.
• What is "Rope Law" in the context of the KKK?

  It refers to mob killings of black Americans without trial.
• How many people were lynched in Georgia by the KKK in 1924-25?

  135 people
• How many black Americans were lynched by the KKK in the 1920s?

  Over 400 black Americans
• Why were KKK members seldom punished for their crimes?

  Many held positions of authority, local police often did nothing, and politicians feared losing WASP votes.
• How did the local police contribute to the KKK's actions?

  Local police often stood by and did nothing to help victims, and sometimes participated in the killings.
• What challenges did the government face in addressing the KKK's actions?

  It was difficult to change long-held attitudes of white people in the south.
• Why did politicians avoid taking action against the KKK?

  They were scared of losing WASP votes.