How Far Do You Agree That The Impact Of World War 2 Was The Main Reason The Position Of Afro-Americans Changed?

   On the other hand it could be argued that the Second World War’s influence was in limited. Despite the initiatives implemented by President Truman it could be argued that these did more harm than good, as they forced integration within the army. There was also huge lack of commitment to these initiatives after they were put in place such as, black soldiers having different canteens and being transported to the battlefield in different vehicles. Many were also denied the right to fight and were employed as cooks and cleaners, black soldiers who did make it to the front line were often more poorly trained and equipped. This lack of commitment to legislation led to a growing white opposition within government. Hence De Jure legislation could not be converted into De Facto change, a fate which was also suffered by the work of the NAACP.

   The De Jure victories of Civil Rights organizations were critical in improving the lives and opportunities that Afro-Americans had, particularly the NAACP who constantly challenged segregation through the legal system e.g. Brown vs Board of Education (1954) where the clause from Plessy vs Ferguson stating that facilities must be ‘separate but equal’ was overturned. This was of great signifance in improving the lives of Black Americans as it meant that the clause could no longer be manipulated or interpreted to allow unequal public facilities. In 1955 Brown 2 was taken to court however the ruling to this stated that desegregation in education would occur ‘with all deliberate speed.’ This limited any improvement that would otherwise have been made as a result of this case as it was too vague to enforce any significant change, demonstrated the same year when fewer than fewer than 10% of schools in the South were desegregated. A large number closed in the following years to prevent them being forced to desegregate .It also led to a greater increase in white opposition on a local level ensuring that De Jure could not be enforced to form a De Facto change.
  Undoubtedly the use of Direct Action by Civil Rights Organizations was the most important aspect in improving the lives of Afro-Americans as it was able to change De Jure victories into De Facto change. For example, voting registration campaigns in the ex-confederate states. This was highly significant as it was able to use the work of De Jure victories to create change on the ground such as the Smith vs Allwright case of 1944 which confirmed that everyone had the right to vote regardless of skin colour or race. This was significant in improving the lives of Afro-Americans as it showed a De Facto change resulting from the work done by civil rights organizations.
  Alternatively it could be argued that even the success of Direct Action could be argued of having limited effects in improving the lives of Black Americans. Several campaigns despite creating change were unable to increase voting registration by a significant margin, considering all citizens had the right to vote decided by Smith vs Allwright.

   There were limited advances in the cause of civil rights during Truman’s presidency. During the Cold War Truman believed that America had a moral duty to fight Communism and promote freedom, however he realised it was highly hypocritical to promote freedom while the black Americans in his own country faced segregation and racism on a daily basis. Truman tried to extend the funding for the Fair Employment Practices Commission, although eventually failing. Truman used Executive Orders as had Roosevelt (or Hoover) to try to facilitate fair employment practices for black Americans; Truman established a committee to investigate race relations. The report of this committee published in 1947 was called ‘To Secure These Rights’. It called for many changes to be made to the law e.g. to secure black voting rights, to pass anti-lynching legislation and to end segregated facilities. Truman began to lose support from southern white Democrats, although he had planned to make several changes as a result of ‘To Secure These Rights’, he had watered them down considerably by the time of the 1948. Meaning no significant civil rights legislation was implemented during the Truman presidency. Eisenhower refused to comment on the Brown case. He criticised the ruling arguing that it would do nothing to change the hearts and minds of southern white racists he believed that change could not be forced. He claimed that his decision was to make Earl Warren Chief Justice was ‘the biggest damned-fool mistake I ever made’.

   In conclusion, I would say that all of the factors mentioned were hugely limited in providing change in the lives of Black Americans including the impact of the Second World War’s impact. However the use of Direct Action can at least be credited with converting De Jure victories into De Facto change on the ground and the De Jure victories of Civil Rights Organizations such as the NAACP can be credited as being a catalyst for this success.