Progressive Era? ► While the goal of the Progressives was to improve social conditions in the United States, the reforms did not benefit African Americans.

Progressive Era?Progressive Era?► While the goal of the Progressives was to While the goal of the Progressives was to

improve social conditions in the United improve social conditions in the United States, the reforms did not benefit African States, the reforms did not benefit African Americans or Mexican AmericansAmericans or Mexican Americans

► In fact, African Americans actually lost In fact, African Americans actually lost rights in the 20rights in the 20thth Century Century

A Short ReviewA Short Review►Do you remember which political party, Do you remember which political party,

the Democrats or Republicans, tried to the Democrats or Republicans, tried to help African Americans after the Civil help African Americans after the Civil War? War? (HINT: p. 343 in textbook)(HINT: p. 343 in textbook)

►Well… by the 1890s the Republican Well… by the 1890s the Republican Party had stopped supporting the rights Party had stopped supporting the rights of African Americansof African Americans

►The Democratic Party had started The Democratic Party had started passing laws discriminating against passing laws discriminating against African Americans. These laws are African Americans. These laws are known as known as Jim Crow LawsJim Crow Laws..

What is Jim Crow?What is Jim Crow?► Jim Crow was the name given to the laws Jim Crow was the name given to the laws

that restricted the rights and activities of that restricted the rights and activities of African-Americans in the United States from African-Americans in the United States from the 1890s to the 1960s. the 1890s to the 1960s.

► In Texas, these laws often applied to In Texas, these laws often applied to Mexican Americans, too.Mexican Americans, too.

Examples of Jim Crow LawsExamples of Jim Crow Laws►Public Facilities Public Facilities

Several of the laws passed in Texas Several of the laws passed in Texas REQUIRED separate cars for Blacks and REQUIRED separate cars for Blacks and Whites on trains and streetcarsWhites on trains and streetcars

African Americans were forced to use African Americans were forced to use different public librariesdifferent public libraries

Separate seating on all buses Separate seating on all buses (after they were invented)(after they were invented)

Separate swimming pools, Separate swimming pools, public restrooms, public restrooms, waiting areas, water fountains, waiting areas, water fountains, restaurants, etc.restaurants, etc.

Jim Crow and Voting RightsJim Crow and Voting Rights►Voting RightsVoting Rights

Electors were required to pay a poll tax Electors were required to pay a poll tax ►Why was this a problem?Why was this a problem?

African Americans were not allowed to African Americans were not allowed to vote in a Democratic Primary in the state vote in a Democratic Primary in the state of Texas from 1922-1927of Texas from 1922-1927

Intimidation and tests were used to keep Intimidation and tests were used to keep African Americans and poorer Texans African Americans and poorer Texans from votingfrom voting

►Voting Then and NowVoting Then and Now

Jim Crow and EducationJim Crow and Education►EducationEducation

Only taxes paid by black would go to Only taxes paid by black would go to maintaining African American schoolsmaintaining African American schools

►Why was this a problem?Why was this a problem?

Racially segregated schools were requiredRacially segregated schools were required States spent roughly 500% more per States spent roughly 500% more per

white child as compared to black childwhite child as compared to black childWhite School in the 1920s

African American

School in the 1920s

DireDireConsequencesConsequences

►LynchingLynching Consequences for even minor crimes were Consequences for even minor crimes were

often taken into the hands of citizensoften taken into the hands of citizens Over 5,000 lynchings took place in the United Over 5,000 lynchings took place in the United

States between Reconstruction and the 1960sStates between Reconstruction and the 1960s► PBS Interactive Jim Crow MapsPBS Interactive Jim Crow Maps

Organizations to HelpOrganizations to Help► NAACPNAACP

National Association for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored People

An organization created to work for racial equalityAn organization created to work for racial equality► African American ChurchesAfrican American Churches

Ministers’ influence went well beyond the walls of Ministers’ influence went well beyond the walls of the churchthe church

They often gave advice on political and community They often gave advice on political and community affairsaffairs

Church conventions searched for common Church conventions searched for common solutions to problemssolutions to problems

Private Church colleges trained African American Private Church colleges trained African American leadersleaders

Black doctors, dentists and lawyers had to travel Black doctors, dentists and lawyers had to travel out of state to get their education because Texas out of state to get their education because Texas universities only admitted whitesuniversities only admitted whites

Help for Mexican AmericansHelp for Mexican Americans►Mutualistas (mutual aid societies)Mutualistas (mutual aid societies)

Emphasized economic protection, Emphasized economic protection, education, and community serviceeducation, and community service

They provided sickness and burial They provided sickness and burial insurance, loans, legal aid, social and insurance, loans, legal aid, social and cultural activities, libraries, classes, cultural activities, libraries, classes, leadership opportunities, and safe leadership opportunities, and safe quarters for barrio eventsquarters for barrio events

Postcard dated March, 1916. On the back, someone has written, "This is how the Mexicans lived."

Mexican American Mexican American OrganizationsOrganizations

►LULAC – (League of United Latin LULAC – (League of United Latin American Citizens)American Citizens) Founded in Corpus Christi in 1929Founded in Corpus Christi in 1929 Worked for Mexican American rights in Worked for Mexican American rights in

the court system, in hiring and educationthe court system, in hiring and education

LULAC founders - 1929

ExceptionsExceptions►Norris Wright CuneyNorris Wright Cuney

African American politician who African American politician who became a powerful figure in Texas became a powerful figure in Texas politics (especially in Galveston)politics (especially in Galveston)

Won an election as alderman Won an election as alderman (councilman) in Galveston in 1883(councilman) in Galveston in 1883

Became the Republican Party’s Became the Republican Party’s national committeeman from Texas national committeeman from Texas in 1886, the highest rank achieved in 1886, the highest rank achieved by a Southern African American for by a Southern African American for the rest of the centurythe rest of the century

Died in 1889 and was buried in Died in 1889 and was buried in GalvestonGalveston

The 1890s: Black CodesThe 1890s: Black Codes► After the Civil War, white supremacists in the South were determined After the Civil War, white supremacists in the South were determined

to hinder any social or political progress by the African-American to hinder any social or political progress by the African-American populace. At the 1866 Constitutional Convention, Texans imposed populace. At the 1866 Constitutional Convention, Texans imposed restrictive laws, known as Black Codes, upon African Americans that restrictive laws, known as Black Codes, upon African Americans that limited their autonomy. limited their autonomy.

► The Codes outlined a status for African Americans not too much The Codes outlined a status for African Americans not too much removed from their earlier condition as slaves. African Americans removed from their earlier condition as slaves. African Americans without jobs often were assigned to white guardians for work without without jobs often were assigned to white guardians for work without pay. The penalty for quitting often included imprisonment for breach of pay. The penalty for quitting often included imprisonment for breach of contract. contract.

► Other laws prevented freedmen from having free access to public Other laws prevented freedmen from having free access to public facilities.facilities.

► Stiff fines were levied against African Americans for violating curfews, Stiff fines were levied against African Americans for violating curfews,

possessing firearms, or displaying objectionable public behavior (harsh possessing firearms, or displaying objectionable public behavior (harsh speeches or insulting gestures). speeches or insulting gestures).

► Blacks were not allowed to testify against whites, serve on juries or in Blacks were not allowed to testify against whites, serve on juries or in state militias, or to vote. They were, however, free to develop schools state militias, or to vote. They were, however, free to develop schools and churches, which became vehicles for improvement within their and churches, which became vehicles for improvement within their communities. communities.

► By the late 1860s, African Americans had aligned themselves with the By the late 1860s, African Americans had aligned themselves with the Republicans and began to carve a pathway to true freedom as Republicans and began to carve a pathway to true freedom as American citizens.American citizens.

► By the 1880s, the constitutional rights guaranteed to African By the 1880s, the constitutional rights guaranteed to African Americans in the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments had Americans in the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments had begun to be curtailed. begun to be curtailed.

► Only three African Americans were elected to the Texas Only three African Americans were elected to the Texas Legislature during the 1890s. Segregation or separate-but-Legislature during the 1890s. Segregation or separate-but-equal status for African-Americans gradually became the equal status for African-Americans gradually became the norm. norm.

► In 1891, the 22nd Legislature passed the most famous of the In 1891, the 22nd Legislature passed the most famous of the state’s segregation statutes. It became known as the Jim state’s segregation statutes. It became known as the Jim Crow law. The statute required separate railroad coaches for Crow law. The statute required separate railroad coaches for African Americans. African Americans.

► According to Historian C. Vann Woodward writing in the According to Historian C. Vann Woodward writing in the 1960s, "The origin of the term ‘Jim Crow’ applied to Negroes 1960s, "The origin of the term ‘Jim Crow’ applied to Negroes is lost in obscurity. Thomas D. Rice wrote a song and dance is lost in obscurity. Thomas D. Rice wrote a song and dance called ‘Jim Crow’ in 1832, and the term had become an called ‘Jim Crow’ in 1832, and the term had become an adjective [applied to African Americans] by 1838. The first adjective [applied to African Americans] by 1838. The first example of ‘Jim Crow Law’ listed by the Dictionary of example of ‘Jim Crow Law’ listed by the Dictionary of American English is dated 1904. But the expression was American English is dated 1904. But the expression was used by writers in the 1890s. . . ." used by writers in the 1890s. . . ."

The 1890s: Jim Crow LawsThe 1890s: Jim Crow Laws

The 1890s: Voting RightsThe 1890s: Voting Rights► Although African Americans were legally allowed to vote by Although African Americans were legally allowed to vote by

1870, their abilities to vote often were hampered by whites 1870, their abilities to vote often were hampered by whites who believed that only educated people who owned a who believed that only educated people who owned a substantial amount of property should be able to exercise the substantial amount of property should be able to exercise the privilege of voting. privilege of voting.

► To restrict African Americans from voting, white officials often To restrict African Americans from voting, white officials often established polling places far from African American established polling places far from African American communities. The roads and bridges to the polling places often communities. The roads and bridges to the polling places often were blocked on election day, or the polling place was changed were blocked on election day, or the polling place was changed at the last minute without informing African American voters. at the last minute without informing African American voters. If these tactics failed, stuffing ballot boxes or miscounting cast If these tactics failed, stuffing ballot boxes or miscounting cast ballots also was common. ballots also was common.

► Senator Gaines and Representatives Geiger, Patton, and Sneed Senator Gaines and Representatives Geiger, Patton, and Sneed opposed poll taxes that were imposed by the Legislature opposed poll taxes that were imposed by the Legislature because poor African Americans and whites could not afford to because poor African Americans and whites could not afford to cast their votes. cast their votes.

► Reading and comprehension tests, complicated ballots, or Reading and comprehension tests, complicated ballots, or voter exclusion based on previous convictions of bribery, voter exclusion based on previous convictions of bribery, burglary, theft, or murder also were used.burglary, theft, or murder also were used.