Introduction to the American Civil Rights Movement By Mikhaela Barnes With special help from Connor McNellis Impact of the Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow Laws The Beginnings of Slavery ❖ Slavery was introduced to the new colonies within the U.S. in 1619 in order to aid the settlers in the production of crops. ❖ The practice of slavery bled into the 17th and 18th century. Throughout this period of time, slaves become a huge factor of economic success for agriculture. ❖ In 1793 the creation of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin solidified the need for slaves throughout the country. ❖ Westward expansion became a huge ordeal within the 17th century, and along with it, the question as to whether or not slavery was immoral came along with it. ❖ The disagreement was over the issue of states rights and slavery. A number of states, mainly in the south, used agriculture as a main source of income. As a result, many of the states these states relied on slaves to work their land, and saw their abolition as the The Civil War government unlawfully taking their property ❖ Within this war, a total of 620,000 men, both Union and Confederate, gave their lives in this war. The Civil War was an internal conflict that lasted from 1861 to 1865. ❖ On May 9th, 1865 the Civil War was over and the abolition of slavery was spread throughout all states. Reconstruction: Results of the Civil War ❖ For the 12 years after the civil war (1865-1887) the union army controlled the south using martial law. ❖ This controlled environment eased the transition in the south by controlling terrorist groups such as the KKK and White Man’s League. ❖ For the first time Blacks were allowed to move freely and choose their profession. ❖ As ex-confederates were not allowed to vote black voters and republican abolitionists turned out in large numbers to elect republican and black officials to office. ❖ The so called reconstruction amendments, 13th and 14th, were passed to ensure the freedoms granted to blacks in the Emancipation Proclamation The Thirteenth Amendment ❖ The thirteenth amendment officially abolished slavery in the entire United States. ❖ The amendment was proposed and supported by President Abraham Lincoln along with his fellow Republicans. ❖ It was ratified on December 6, 1865, eight months after the assassination of Lincoln. ❖ The section one states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” ❖ Section two states, “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” The Fourteenth Amendment ❖ Known as the "Reconstruction Amendment," it forbids any state to deny any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." ❖ Was ratified on July 28, 1868. ❖ SECTION 1- All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. ❖ SECTION 2- Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. The Fourteenth Amendment ❖ SECTION 3-No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. ❖ SECTION 4-The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. ❖ SECTION 5-The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. End of Reconstruction (1877) ● With the election of Rutherford B. Hayes resulting in the immediate end of reconstruction, terrorist groups once again rose to power. ● Groups such as the KKK, and White Man’s League controlled the polls during elections, enforcing literacy tests and poll taxes in order to prevent Blacks and republicans from voting. They even resorted to violence lynching many. ● They also enacted vigilante justice when they believed blacks were acting out of line, such as travelling between towns, owning firearms, or talking to white women. Though this wasn’t legislated they were unwritten black codes returning blacks to near slave status. Black’s Rights- 7:40 Jim Crow Laws ❖ Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. Enacted after the Reconstruction period (1877) and continued in force until 1965. ❖ The segregation principle was extended to parks, cemeteries, theatres, and restaurants in an effort to prevent any contact between blacks and whites as equals. It was codified on local and state levels and most famously with the “separate but equal” decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). ❖ Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) marked the beginning of a 58-year period where Jim Crow was largely unchallenged and condoned by the federal government. ❖ This put a swift end to Jim Crow Laws throughout the U.S. The KKK and the White Man’s League The KKK and the White Man’s League ❖ Groups such as the KKK and White Man’s League were created to discourage Republicans and Freedmen from voting. ❖ The KKK was founded in 1866 and by 1870 had branches in every southern state. Their white superiority message appealed to many southerners. ❖ Their paramilitary actions also appealed to the disgraced confederate soldiers. ❖ Similar groups such as the Red Shirts also arose in the south all with the same purpose: to oppose legislation that created equality for whites and blacks. The KKK- 9:37 Race riots in Race riots in the late 19th and thelate 19th and early 20th centuries impact early 20th of Moore v.Dempsey centuries impact of Moore v.Dempsey ❖ Moore V. Dempsey was a case against a group of black men for murdering a white security officer during a riot. Moore V. ❖ Throughout the trial a mob of angry white activists fearing a black Dempsey insurrection surrounded the courthouse making acquittal impossible. ❖ This led to the supreme court finding mob dominated trials in violation of “due process.” Moore vs. Dempsey ❖ This trial, along with its retrial, was the first time the U.S. government had backed black people in terms of civil rights since the civil war. ❖ The Supreme court had seen the trials to be unfair because of the mob that surrounded the courthouse during that time. ❖ This was simply one of the many catalysts that helped the U.S. to establish equal rights. Race Riots of the late 19th century and early 20th century ❖ With their newfound freedom many blacks fled to northern cities. ❖ There was often tension between large numbers of blacks and whites living side by side. Many riots arose over segregation. ❖ Riots also continued in the South. Lynchings led to the black community mobilizing to express its displeasure. The white community would respond in kind, with more violence. This tension led to ongoing violence with only slight civil rights advances. One large riot that took place was the Chicago Riot in 1968. The Chicago Riot 1968 ❖ The 1968 Chicago riots were a result of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. King. He was shot while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 pm. ❖ The riots lasted from April 5, 1968 to April 7, 1968. ❖ There were 11 deaths, over 500 injuries and over 2,150 people who had been arrested. Ethnic Riots from 1861-1975 1863: New York City Draft Riot 1886: Seattle riot of 1886[16] 1863: Detroit Race Riot 1898: Wilmington Insurrection of 1898[17] Reconstruction Period: 1865–1877[edit] 1898: Lake