History

WK3 Final Project Framework Worksheet

Renee D Henry

January 23, 2017

HIS 206 United States History II Instructor: Corinne O'Connor

WK3 Final Project Framework Worksheet

Statement of Topic: African Americans

Thesis Statement

The African Americans have experienced harsh treatments which made them to suffer in the American history. The sufferings were associated with racial segregation something at a given point was viewed to be constitutional in the US. The history of Africans and how they were brought in the US as slaves was the major contribution to their sufferings in the American timeline events and history (Massey & Denton, 1993). However, the African Americans struggled and fought for their rights which include being given freedom, education and equal employment opportunities which although was opposed, they were implemented with time something which made African Americans and White Americans to be equal in the present time.

Introduction

There are various historical events in the American history which is associated with the present practices which regards the African Americans and also the White Americans. The significant historical events are occurred from 18877-1945 and from 1945 to present time (Rugh & Massey, 2010). The two events which involve the African Americans in the American history in 1877-1945 include the US Supreme Court decision in 1896 which made racial segregation to be constitutional in America. Another important event is the activities of Marcus Garvey in the 1914 which were associated with African Nationalism. The two historical events which occurred after 1945 include the 1954 Supreme Court decision concerning Brown V. Board of Education to end racial segregation in schools and the 1948 action by President Garry S. Truman to integrate African soldiers in the US armed forces. These historical events are significant since they resulted to equal treatments and equality among the races in the US as explained below.

Event One 1877 to 1945: The 1896 Supreme Court Decision

The Supreme Court Decision in 1896 to legalize racial segregation is a major historical event in the American history. This decision resulted to harsh treatments being imposed to African Americans in all regions of the US. The Africans were viewed as slaves and they were entitled to provide labor in the White American plantations and other companies (Massey & Denton, 1993). The rise of cotton demand also contributed to this event since the segregation of Africans was beneficial to the gaining of profits associated with cotton products in the US. The Africans being taken as slaves contributed to the US economic growth something which made the White Americans stress the need to discriminate them for their own gain.

Beside this, the White Americans denied Africans education, freedom of employments and also right to own property. This circumstance also was a contributing factor to the Supreme Court decision to segregate the Africans. The Whit Americans feared that giving Africans education will make them know their rights and start fighting for them. If they were given freedom of employment and right to own property, then the African Americans could refuse to work in the White plantations and companies and this was seen to bring economic recession to the White Americans. Hence making the discrimination of African Americans constitutional was a protective measure for the American government to safeguard White American interests and gains in terms of employment and financial gains. Africans being discriminated will make them have low class levels and resources something which was to force them work for the White Americans. This was significant in the American history since it resulted to rise of class differences between the White and African Americans and again led to rise of African Nationalism where African decided to fight for their rights.

Event Two 1877 to 1945: The Activities of Marcus Garvey from 1914

Having educated, Marcus Garvey was well-informed about African rights in the US and started the Nationalism spirit. Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Movement Association in 1914 which was a significant event to have been done in the American history. This was in Jamaica and New York City where he started his nationalist activities by publishing newspapers exposing the discrimination of Africans to the international world something which was beneficial to the Africans. The newspaper alongside the Universal Negro Movement Association brought African Americans in to their toes such that they were educated of their rights and they started to demand them (Lewis, 1987).

The various circumstances which led to these movements of nationalisms include the inhumane treatments of Africans who were given corporal punishments while working as slaves in the White plantations and factories. Again the African Americans were denied education, employment and owning of property rights something which made them to suffer a lot and they could not get out of the racial segregation (Lewis, 1987).This event was significant since the Association formed educated African Americans of their rights and they stated engaging in Nationalism Activities which played a major role in attaining their freedom.

EVENT FOUR: 1945 to present: The Brown V. Board of Education of 1954

In this year of 1952, the Supreme Court uplifted the discrimination of African American in public schools. The Brown V. Board of Education was strongly against the constitutional legislation which provided for enrolment of different schools of African Americans and White Americans. The legislation had led to poor enrollment of African children in public schools something which made them denied educational rights resulting to them being illiterate. The poor condition of African schools also made it essential for the integration of African and White Americans in the public schools (Bell Jr, 1980). The Supreme Court decision made the constitution to change regarding the schooling of both African and White American children. This was significant in the American history since it brought equality in the education sector involving Africans and Whites in their schooling processes.

EVENT Three 1945 to present: The Integration of African Americans in US armed forces in 1948

President Harry S. Truman action of integrating Black Americans in the US armed forces was another major historical event to have occurred in the American history. The Africans had participated in most American civil wars but they had not been taken in the armed forces since they were discriminated (Rugh & Massey, 2010). However, after the World War II President Truman integrated the Africans to work in the US armed forces. This is another historical event which promoted the name of the African Americans since they were viewed to be important persons in providing of security. The Black soldiers were taken to Southwest lands to maintain law and order. This particularly was to solve land and other disputes involving the White and African Americans something which made them referred to as “Buffalo Soldiers” due to their courageous and bravery skills. This again was an important event in the American history since it changed the composition of the US armed forces to now have elements of Africans included.

References

Massey, D. S., & Denton, N. A. (1993). American apartheid: Segregation and the making of the underclass. Harvard University Press.

Rugh, J. S., & Massey, D. S. (2010). Racial segregation and the American foreclosure crisis. American sociological review, 75(5), 629-651.

Bell Jr, D. A. (1980). Brown v. Board of Education and the interest-convergence dilemma. Harvard Law Review, 518-533.

Lewis, R. (1987). Marcus Garvey: anti-colonial champion. Karia Press.