Civil Rights and Race Relations in
the USA Notes:
Background/Context:
The USA has a federal system of government. It's divided into states which can grant their
own laws. However, each state also comes under the umbrella of the federal government in
Washington DC, which passes federal laws that cover the whole country.
The US Constitution has 27 amendments (that are still being edited). The first 10 are known
as the Bill of Rights. But the constitution is divided into three:
Legislative: Executive: Judiciary:
The Congress makes laws and is The presidency enforces the law The Supreme Court interprets
divided into two: and serves with a vice president the law and is the highest court
The senate: and a cabinet: in the land, its decision is final.
- Is elected every 6 years, & President: The justices:
is 2 per state - Elected every 4 years - The job is for life
- can carry out - Limited to two terms - Chosen by the president
impeachment trials (like - Has the power of veto when one juror dies
the president) Vice president: - Agreed to by the senate
The House of Representatives: - Becomes president upon Chief justice:
- Amount of per state based their death, impeachment, - Head of Supreme Court
on state’s population or resignation - Would preside over any
- Elected every 2 years. The cabinet: impeachment trial
- Carry out impeachments of - Meets weekly - Controls what appears in
officials when put to a vote - Chosen by the president court sessions
of no confidence or breach and approves by the senate
of privilege.
All three parts of the government work together to form the gov. Each branch holds the other
accountable. Montesquieu created the idea of the three groups.
In the 17th century, white Europeans were engaged in the conquest of the North American
continent. They bought and enslaved black Africans, and considered it justified because:
● Africans have different and often non-Christian cultures. So they perceived them as
uncivilized and inferior
● European technological superiority seemed to prove black culture and racial
inferiority
● Africans did not look like Europeans, so they found it appropriate to treat them
differently
● As there was a lot of work to be done, and not enough men to do it, enslaved people
were deemed essential for cheap and plentiful labor.
The American constitution and race relations:
,In 1783, the British government recognized American independence. Therefore the
Americans needed to establish their own form of government for the 13 former colonies,
which they now called states. The states sent 55 delegates to discuss a new constitution,
and 19 of them owned slaves.
Perceptions of slavery:
By the early 19th century, slavery had been abolished in most Northern states and some
Northerners (abolitionists) advocated the abolition of slavery throughout the US. However,
the economy and society of the South differed from the North and as a result, most white
Southerners were pro-slavery:
● Plantations were a key feature of the economy and society of the South. White
plantation owners such as Thomas Jefferson were at the apex of Southern society.
They believed the profitability of their plantations depended upon the labor of
enslaved people they owned.
● The 75% of white Southerners who were not enslaved were formerly enslaved
people who would be competition for wage-paying jobs
● White people feared formerly enslaved people might prove hostile.
● As over 90% of black Americans lived in the South, many felt that formerly enslaved
people would threaten white supremacy and supposed racial purity
Key-words:
Confederates: Anyone who supports you and works towards the same goal as
you. In political terms, it means “united by a treaty” like two
countries that have joined forces against one another.
● The southern states formed the Confederate States
during the Civil War
Democrat: Dominated US politics in the first half of the 1800’s. It was:
- Pro-slavery
- Against a powerful central/federal government
It changed during the 1900’s becoming the party of the less
privileged and advocated for federal government aid for them to
use.
Republican: Members of the anti-slavery republican party which emerged in
the 1850s. Radical Republicans were particularly anti-slavery
Federal government A system of separate states that make up a federal government.
It consists of the president, congress, and the supreme court.
The states have many powers reserved to them by the
constitution (voting, education…)
Constitution: The rules and system by which a country’s government works.
The USA has a written constitution.
,Black Code: Restricted the rights of freed blacks and maintained white
supremacy. It made it impossible for black people to:
● purchase or rent land
● Vote
● obtain an education
● and receive meaningful protection from the law.
Freedmans Bureau A federal agency established in 1865, during Reconstruction, to
assist freed slaves (freedmen) and poor white people in the
South after the Civil War.
De jure “By law”
● Segregation that is enforced by laws or official policies
● Examples include:
○ Jim Crow Laws in the South enforced racial
segregation in public spaces
○ Plessy v. Ferguson upheld de jure segregation by
establishing the doctrine of “separate but equal”
○ Mainly seen in the southern states where legal
systems actively supported racial inequality
De facto “In fact”
● Segregation or discrimination that happens in practice
even if it is not legally enforced
● Results from social, economic, or cultural factors rather
than laws
○ Seen in northern cities where blacks were
confined to certain neighborhoods because of
discriminatory housing practices or economic
inequality
○ Schools in the North were segregated in practice
because neighborhoods were segregated
○ This was mainly seen in the North, where racism
and inequality persisted without formal laws
Fillibuster A filibuster occurs when one or more members of a legal body
prolong debate in order to delay or entirely prevent a decision to
be made
Accommodationists People who favor initial black concentration upon economic
improvement rather than upon social, political, and legal
equality. They thought that economic improvement would help
them out in their lives as it would then automatically improve the
rest of the factors they lacked in (social, politicla and legal).
, 1. Free at last:
The American Civil War:
Before the Civil War in America, there was a movement of people who called themselves
‘abolitionists’.
● Abolitionists objected to slavery on moral grounds. They campaigned in America and
the United Kingdom to end slavery.
● The abolitionists' message then influenced others in America who in turn wanted to
end slavery.
○ These people were based mainly in the Northern States of America and were
against the expansion of slavery across the newly acquired Northern States.
● There were many reasons why abolitionists wanted to stop the expansion of slavery.
○ They objected to slavery on moral grounds.
○ They didn’t want the non-whites to live in new territories.
○ They believed that slave labor would make it harder for white people to get
jobs as they were cheaper to acquire.
○ They didn’t want to increase the number of slave states because the North
and South didn't share the same opinions on many political things.
● The Southern States had lots of power and people in the North didn't want that to
increase.
● The debate over slavery caused the Northern States and the Southern States to
become divided. They fell into civil war.
○ The Southern States then formed the Confederate States.
○ Abraham Lincoln was the leader of the Northern States → Republicans.
● The Civil War lasted 4 years.
● Slavery wasn’t the only reason for the Civil War but it was an important issue within it.
○ Lincoln also thought if he and the Northern States agreed that they would end
Slavery then they would get the backing of foreign powers such as the UK
(who also objected to slavery). This would weaken the Confederate Forces
and allow the Unionist Forces a victory.
○ Another reason why the Civil War started was because of the economy. The
Southern economy depended on cotton and, consequently, on slave labor.
○ The Southern states also wanted to be able to nullify federal acts
○ Lincoln won the North and his opponents won the South. The country was
divided
● Lincoln didn’t necessarily want to end slavery, in fact, he stated that he would protect
slavery in the states where it already existed.
● He said that his main goal was to protect the union of the US, it was not to
‘put down slavery’.
● The Northern States won the Civil War. Lincoln declared in the 1862 Emancipation
Proclamation that all slaves would be set free once Unionist Forces won the
Confederate States.
● However, the proclamation still allowed slavery to exist in the Union States.
● It did little to free slaves and Lincoln's motives were arguably political rather
than moral.
, Impact of the war:
Social:
● The war had accelerated the movement of women in the workforce. Although women
continued to face cultural barriers, there were new opportunities for positions as
clerical workers, nurses, and teachers.
● However, in northern towns, black Americans were excluded from white institutions
and public facilities and were unofficially segregated in schools, churches, and
housing.
○ Only a minority of Northern white people favored integration and the abolition
of slavery, and even some of the Northern abolitionists looked down on black
people. (Reasons for feelings are mentioned ^^).
● Many black Americans preferred segregation. Life in segregated areas enabled them
to maintain their cultural identity in their own churches and to avoid white authority.
○ Proximity seemed to worsen racial tensions: a high proportion of race riots
occurred in areas containing a large black minority.
● Some attitudes towards black people changed for the better as a result of their
participation in the Civil War.
○ Some white Americans now saw them as brave heroes.
○ Lincoln even changed his own attitudes towards black people after he saw
them fight and considered them to be gallant and intelligent.
○ This was reflected in the 1989 film, “Glory” which showed the heroism of the
all-black 54th Massachusetts infantry
● After the CW ended, many campaigned to end slavery
○ The Women's Loyal League created a petition which was signed by 500,000
people who wanted to end slavery
Economic:
● The economy of the South was destroyed by the war.
● There was widespread destruction of lands and communities were wiped out.
Without slaves, landowners resorted to sharecropping, a system that did not
encourage soil protection or introduce new crops (that were needed and were
popular at the time) → The South fell into widespread poverty, a situation that lasted
for generations.
● In the North, however, the economy prospered after the war. The population grew
and new industries emerged. An era of rapid economic growth began.
○ President Lincoln's Pacific Railroad Act reacting to railroad expansion led to a
rapid increase in steel production, oil production, and electric power.
○ Additionally, Lincoln’s National Bank Act of 1863 allowed for stability in
banking as the economy expanded
Political:
● Whilst fighting, many Northern white Americans disliked the fact that they were
arming black people, and some labeled Lincoln as a ‘Negro Lover’.
○ This term was exploited by the Democrat party in order to discredit Lincoln
and gain support amongst racist white Americans.
● After the Civil War ended many campaigned to end slavery.
○ The Women’s Loyal League created a petition which was signed by 500,000
people who wanted to end slavery.
the USA Notes:
Background/Context:
The USA has a federal system of government. It's divided into states which can grant their
own laws. However, each state also comes under the umbrella of the federal government in
Washington DC, which passes federal laws that cover the whole country.
The US Constitution has 27 amendments (that are still being edited). The first 10 are known
as the Bill of Rights. But the constitution is divided into three:
Legislative: Executive: Judiciary:
The Congress makes laws and is The presidency enforces the law The Supreme Court interprets
divided into two: and serves with a vice president the law and is the highest court
The senate: and a cabinet: in the land, its decision is final.
- Is elected every 6 years, & President: The justices:
is 2 per state - Elected every 4 years - The job is for life
- can carry out - Limited to two terms - Chosen by the president
impeachment trials (like - Has the power of veto when one juror dies
the president) Vice president: - Agreed to by the senate
The House of Representatives: - Becomes president upon Chief justice:
- Amount of per state based their death, impeachment, - Head of Supreme Court
on state’s population or resignation - Would preside over any
- Elected every 2 years. The cabinet: impeachment trial
- Carry out impeachments of - Meets weekly - Controls what appears in
officials when put to a vote - Chosen by the president court sessions
of no confidence or breach and approves by the senate
of privilege.
All three parts of the government work together to form the gov. Each branch holds the other
accountable. Montesquieu created the idea of the three groups.
In the 17th century, white Europeans were engaged in the conquest of the North American
continent. They bought and enslaved black Africans, and considered it justified because:
● Africans have different and often non-Christian cultures. So they perceived them as
uncivilized and inferior
● European technological superiority seemed to prove black culture and racial
inferiority
● Africans did not look like Europeans, so they found it appropriate to treat them
differently
● As there was a lot of work to be done, and not enough men to do it, enslaved people
were deemed essential for cheap and plentiful labor.
The American constitution and race relations:
,In 1783, the British government recognized American independence. Therefore the
Americans needed to establish their own form of government for the 13 former colonies,
which they now called states. The states sent 55 delegates to discuss a new constitution,
and 19 of them owned slaves.
Perceptions of slavery:
By the early 19th century, slavery had been abolished in most Northern states and some
Northerners (abolitionists) advocated the abolition of slavery throughout the US. However,
the economy and society of the South differed from the North and as a result, most white
Southerners were pro-slavery:
● Plantations were a key feature of the economy and society of the South. White
plantation owners such as Thomas Jefferson were at the apex of Southern society.
They believed the profitability of their plantations depended upon the labor of
enslaved people they owned.
● The 75% of white Southerners who were not enslaved were formerly enslaved
people who would be competition for wage-paying jobs
● White people feared formerly enslaved people might prove hostile.
● As over 90% of black Americans lived in the South, many felt that formerly enslaved
people would threaten white supremacy and supposed racial purity
Key-words:
Confederates: Anyone who supports you and works towards the same goal as
you. In political terms, it means “united by a treaty” like two
countries that have joined forces against one another.
● The southern states formed the Confederate States
during the Civil War
Democrat: Dominated US politics in the first half of the 1800’s. It was:
- Pro-slavery
- Against a powerful central/federal government
It changed during the 1900’s becoming the party of the less
privileged and advocated for federal government aid for them to
use.
Republican: Members of the anti-slavery republican party which emerged in
the 1850s. Radical Republicans were particularly anti-slavery
Federal government A system of separate states that make up a federal government.
It consists of the president, congress, and the supreme court.
The states have many powers reserved to them by the
constitution (voting, education…)
Constitution: The rules and system by which a country’s government works.
The USA has a written constitution.
,Black Code: Restricted the rights of freed blacks and maintained white
supremacy. It made it impossible for black people to:
● purchase or rent land
● Vote
● obtain an education
● and receive meaningful protection from the law.
Freedmans Bureau A federal agency established in 1865, during Reconstruction, to
assist freed slaves (freedmen) and poor white people in the
South after the Civil War.
De jure “By law”
● Segregation that is enforced by laws or official policies
● Examples include:
○ Jim Crow Laws in the South enforced racial
segregation in public spaces
○ Plessy v. Ferguson upheld de jure segregation by
establishing the doctrine of “separate but equal”
○ Mainly seen in the southern states where legal
systems actively supported racial inequality
De facto “In fact”
● Segregation or discrimination that happens in practice
even if it is not legally enforced
● Results from social, economic, or cultural factors rather
than laws
○ Seen in northern cities where blacks were
confined to certain neighborhoods because of
discriminatory housing practices or economic
inequality
○ Schools in the North were segregated in practice
because neighborhoods were segregated
○ This was mainly seen in the North, where racism
and inequality persisted without formal laws
Fillibuster A filibuster occurs when one or more members of a legal body
prolong debate in order to delay or entirely prevent a decision to
be made
Accommodationists People who favor initial black concentration upon economic
improvement rather than upon social, political, and legal
equality. They thought that economic improvement would help
them out in their lives as it would then automatically improve the
rest of the factors they lacked in (social, politicla and legal).
, 1. Free at last:
The American Civil War:
Before the Civil War in America, there was a movement of people who called themselves
‘abolitionists’.
● Abolitionists objected to slavery on moral grounds. They campaigned in America and
the United Kingdom to end slavery.
● The abolitionists' message then influenced others in America who in turn wanted to
end slavery.
○ These people were based mainly in the Northern States of America and were
against the expansion of slavery across the newly acquired Northern States.
● There were many reasons why abolitionists wanted to stop the expansion of slavery.
○ They objected to slavery on moral grounds.
○ They didn’t want the non-whites to live in new territories.
○ They believed that slave labor would make it harder for white people to get
jobs as they were cheaper to acquire.
○ They didn’t want to increase the number of slave states because the North
and South didn't share the same opinions on many political things.
● The Southern States had lots of power and people in the North didn't want that to
increase.
● The debate over slavery caused the Northern States and the Southern States to
become divided. They fell into civil war.
○ The Southern States then formed the Confederate States.
○ Abraham Lincoln was the leader of the Northern States → Republicans.
● The Civil War lasted 4 years.
● Slavery wasn’t the only reason for the Civil War but it was an important issue within it.
○ Lincoln also thought if he and the Northern States agreed that they would end
Slavery then they would get the backing of foreign powers such as the UK
(who also objected to slavery). This would weaken the Confederate Forces
and allow the Unionist Forces a victory.
○ Another reason why the Civil War started was because of the economy. The
Southern economy depended on cotton and, consequently, on slave labor.
○ The Southern states also wanted to be able to nullify federal acts
○ Lincoln won the North and his opponents won the South. The country was
divided
● Lincoln didn’t necessarily want to end slavery, in fact, he stated that he would protect
slavery in the states where it already existed.
● He said that his main goal was to protect the union of the US, it was not to
‘put down slavery’.
● The Northern States won the Civil War. Lincoln declared in the 1862 Emancipation
Proclamation that all slaves would be set free once Unionist Forces won the
Confederate States.
● However, the proclamation still allowed slavery to exist in the Union States.
● It did little to free slaves and Lincoln's motives were arguably political rather
than moral.
, Impact of the war:
Social:
● The war had accelerated the movement of women in the workforce. Although women
continued to face cultural barriers, there were new opportunities for positions as
clerical workers, nurses, and teachers.
● However, in northern towns, black Americans were excluded from white institutions
and public facilities and were unofficially segregated in schools, churches, and
housing.
○ Only a minority of Northern white people favored integration and the abolition
of slavery, and even some of the Northern abolitionists looked down on black
people. (Reasons for feelings are mentioned ^^).
● Many black Americans preferred segregation. Life in segregated areas enabled them
to maintain their cultural identity in their own churches and to avoid white authority.
○ Proximity seemed to worsen racial tensions: a high proportion of race riots
occurred in areas containing a large black minority.
● Some attitudes towards black people changed for the better as a result of their
participation in the Civil War.
○ Some white Americans now saw them as brave heroes.
○ Lincoln even changed his own attitudes towards black people after he saw
them fight and considered them to be gallant and intelligent.
○ This was reflected in the 1989 film, “Glory” which showed the heroism of the
all-black 54th Massachusetts infantry
● After the CW ended, many campaigned to end slavery
○ The Women's Loyal League created a petition which was signed by 500,000
people who wanted to end slavery
Economic:
● The economy of the South was destroyed by the war.
● There was widespread destruction of lands and communities were wiped out.
Without slaves, landowners resorted to sharecropping, a system that did not
encourage soil protection or introduce new crops (that were needed and were
popular at the time) → The South fell into widespread poverty, a situation that lasted
for generations.
● In the North, however, the economy prospered after the war. The population grew
and new industries emerged. An era of rapid economic growth began.
○ President Lincoln's Pacific Railroad Act reacting to railroad expansion led to a
rapid increase in steel production, oil production, and electric power.
○ Additionally, Lincoln’s National Bank Act of 1863 allowed for stability in
banking as the economy expanded
Political:
● Whilst fighting, many Northern white Americans disliked the fact that they were
arming black people, and some labeled Lincoln as a ‘Negro Lover’.
○ This term was exploited by the Democrat party in order to discredit Lincoln
and gain support amongst racist white Americans.
● After the Civil War ended many campaigned to end slavery.
○ The Women’s Loyal League created a petition which was signed by 500,000
people who wanted to end slavery.
