US Civil Rights Movement: Background

John Brown’s Uprising• On 16 October 1859, John Brown led a

group of 21 to attack and occupy a federal weapons arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.• Brown hoped to ignite a large slave

uprising.• He failed to draw support from local slaves

and after less than 36 hours was overrun by federal and local troops and arrested.• On 2 December 1859, he was executed on

the outskirts of Charles Town Virginia.

Evaluations• “a religious fanatic” (Abraham Lincoln)• “a notorious old thief and murderer” (Patriot Newspaper)• “misguided, wild and apparently insane” (Abolitionist William Lloyd

Garrison)• “a heroic and selfless martyr”• He had “a perfect right to interfere by force with the slave holder, in

order to rescue the slave.” (Henry David Thoreau)• “part of a broader plot of the North against the South”

1. Settlement of USA resulted in different societies

•North: Puritanism, Mercantilism, industry•South: Planter society,

dependant on salves•West: Settled late, frontier

society, free settlers

2. USA is a federal system with 3 branches of government

• 13 American colonies united in 1776 – other states joined later• Constitution set out • areas of federal vs state vs local

responsibility• that federal law trumped state law• the role of the legislature (Congress &

Senate)• the role of the executive (President)• the role of the judiciary (Supreme Court)

3. Long legacy of slavery• Feature of life in Americas since 17th Century• South dependant on slaves to work fields• In USA: Chattel slavery• Biblical justification:

• "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japeth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave'. " (Genesis 9:25-27)

• "tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect" (Titus 2:9)

• Monroe’s Liberia solution• Dredd Scott v Sandford decision

4. Civil War & Reconstruction• War between Northern Union and Southern

Confederacy between 1860-1864• States’ Rights• Slavery

• Northern victory resulted in destruction of the South• Reconstruction imposed equality, exploitation and

change on the South• 14th, 15th, 16th Amendments to the Constitution• Slavery replaced by sharecropping• Thaddeus Stevens’ solution

5. Segregation was the social and legal norm

• 1875 Civil Rights Act declared unconstitutional• Plessy v Ferguson decision• Jim Crow South• Social segregation North• Stereotypes enhanced• Psychological and physical violence

used to maintain system

6. Movement of change was underway but not united• Ida B. Wells: used journalism to bring attention to lynchings• Marcus Garvey: formed Universal Negro Improvement Association to help

Blacks work for self-determination• W.E.B. Du Bois: pointed our the social and psychological impact of racism

and suggested vigorous protests could help achieve equality• Booker T. Washington: advocated vocational training and economic

independence• A. Philip Randolph: used organised labour and threat of mass protest to

push for integration• Thurgood Marshall: led legal battle to overturn segregation

7. Context of USCRM: 1950s-1960s

•Decolonisation and nationalism•Cold War•Prosperity•Urbanism• Suburbanism• Integration

Big questions we will follow•Did the CRM achieve its goals?• Voting rights? Integration? Economic rights? Housing?

Justice system? Health? Education?•What was the most successful strategy of the CRM? • Legal challenge? Mass protest? Direct action? Black

Power? Broad cultural change?•Who played the most important role in the CRM?• Charismatic leaders? Grassroots activists?