English II

Unit 3

2012.2013

Historical Background for Reading

To Kill a Mockingbird

Union (the North) Victory in 1865 gave 4 million slaves freedom

Civil War Ends

A time for rebuilding after the Civil War13th Amendment – freed slaves14th Amendment – citizenship15th Amendment – right to vote

Civil Rights Act, 1875 – equal rights

Reconstruction Period1865 - 1877

Early KKK founded by veterans of the Confederate Army

Purpose – to resist Reconstruction

Used violent methods

President Ulysses S. Grant destroyed KKK with the Civil Rights Act of 1875

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)1866

1915 – William Joseph Simmons founded 2nd KKKThey preached racism, anti-Catholicism,

nativism, and anti-Semitism.They took part in lynchings and other violent

crimes.

Challenges came when legislatures in the south passed restrictive “black codes” to control the labor and behavior of former slaves

When Reconstruction ended, their rights began to dwindle.

Jim Crow Laws1877

Louisiana passed a law requiring blacks to ride in separate rail cars.

Homer Plessy, a Louisiana carpenter and 7/8 caucasian, was arrested after sitting in a car for whites.

Judge ruled against Plessy. Supreme Court upheld the ruling (1896) and led the way for racial segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson1890

Southern states passed laws that restricted African American’s access to schools, restaurants, hospitals, and public places.

Southern SegregationAfter Plessy v. Ferguson

Ruled that separate schools were valid even if comparable schools for blacks were not available

Cumming v. County Board of Education1899

Signs were posted at entrances and exits, water fountains, waiting rooms, and restrooms.

“Whites Only” and “Colored”

Law passed requiring separate public parks

Georgia 1905

Created 10:00P.M. curfew for blacks

Mobile, Alabama1909

Blacks and whites were restricted from working together in the same room of textile factories

South Carolina1915

The Great Depression, 1930 - 1939

October 1929 – The stock market crashed causing $30 billion in stock values to “disappear”

March 1930 – Over 32 million people unemployed

February 1931 – Food riots break out in parts of U.S.

December 1931 – New York’s Bank of the U.S. collapses

April 1932 – Over 750,000 New Yorkers on city relief, 160,000 on the waiting list

November 1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected president

April 1933 – Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC), a work program for men 17 – 27 is established

The Great Depression Timeline

Lasted 1930 – 1939 9,000 banks went out of business 9 million savings accounts – wiped out 86,000 businesses failed Wages decreased by an average of 60% Unemployment rate went from 9% to 25% Whites called for blacks to be fired from any jobs as long as

there were whites out of work. Racial violence becomes more common. Birth rate fell Families fell apart Wives and children forced to help families survive Women found their status enhanced by their new roles. Minorities – “last hired and first fired”

The Great Depression Overview

Published in 1960Called a classic American masterpieceThe novel won Pulitzer Prize in 1961Adapted into an Oscar winning film in 1962Set in the 1930’s Deep South Fictional setting: Maycomb County, AlabamaHarper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama

(possible setting)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

November 2007 - Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

In his remarks, Bush stated, "One reason To Kill a Mockingbird succeeded is the wise and kind heart of the author, which comes through on every page... To Kill a Mockingbird has influenced the character of our country for the better. It's been a gift to the entire world. As a model of good writing and humane sensibility, this book will be read and studied forever."