Timeline of American treatment of Black People

Information for the timeline

The American Civil war

The American civil war had many factors to it. There were economic, cultural, and political reasons. The industrial revolution where textiles were a growing industry had created a demand for cotton which was heavily grown in the south with slave labor. At the same time dramatic cultural changes, including the abolition of slavery was created in the north by the same revolution. Shortly after the Abraham Lincoln took office many southern state left the Union and form a confederacy. Tensions grew and with the confederate attack on Charleston, South Carolina the civil war begins. It lasted until May 1865 when the last of the Confederate forces surrendered to the Union.

Reconstruction Period

After the Civil War there were many issues to deal with. These included:

One of the requirements before a confederate state could join the union was that they excepted the abolishment of slavery. Later amendments to the constitution guaranteed citizenship for all people born in the United States and gave Black People the right to vote. However, this was not the end of discrimination of the Black people in the southern United States.

When "To kill a mockingbird" was set

To kill a mocking bird is set in the southern United States during the 30's when segregation and racism were strong. Although before many major events concerning Black People in the 20th century there was a famous trial where a white lawyer (Black people not allowed to be lawyers then) voluntarily defended a Black man. The trail in the book seems to be based on this.

1941 March on Washington

Organized by A.J. Muste this march was to protest segregation in the military. If never happened as it was canceled when president Franklin Roosevelt sighed "The Fair Employment Act". This act made it so federal agency's had to only sign contracts with private employers that did not discriminate. Although it didn't happen it is still significant as it influences Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 march on Washington.

Brown vs. Toeka board of Education

This outcome of this case was to allow Black and White kids to share the same schools. Before this all Black kids (especially in the south) had to go to one school and the White kids to another. The White schools were usually fancier then the Black schools.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

During this event Black people refused to give up their seats to white passengers. Black people had to sit in the Back of the Bus and White people in the front. There was line in the middle of the bus to show this. However, when the White section got full Black people were forced to surrender there seats to White people. In protest many Black people began to refuse to do so. Eventually this dispute ended up the US Supreme Court which forced that Black people and White people should be able to sit in the same seats.

When "To Kill a Mockingbird" was written

Around this time their was lots of Civil Rights related events occurring. It was copy written in 1960 three years before Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington but after significant events in the 50's such as the Bus boycott, and Brown vs. Toeka board of Education. This book is quite significant and sever references in popular movies, books, and TV shows exists towards it.

1963 march on Washington

This march was a political rally organized by A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin and Martin Luther King Jr. Although the current administration fear how it would affect current civil rights legislation this march was a major part of future legislation.