To what extent had black Americans achieved equal civil rights by 1945?

The black American's had achieved great progress throughout America's turbulent history; they had an achieved a dramatic increase in black consciousness and activism. Although segregation and political inequality remained in the South, Southern white supremacy was being slowly eroded and the desired end of greater equality for blacks began to appear in reach. Not all areas had improved, and some had not made as much progress as others, this is clear when you look at the different aspects of political, social and economical progress. Although all areas had improved, politically there was far greater change for blacks by 1945 than either social or economical.

For the black American's situation to improve, they required the assistance and commitment of the federal government. Unfortunately, the federal government were reluctant to get involved with what they greatly believed was state affairs. This is evident when the Plessy vs. Ferguson case is looked at. In the North conditions were better than the South but they were far from ideal. In some places blacks were allowed to vote freely. However, Northerners were general unwilling to give African Americans the vote unless they could be sure that they would vote the 'right' way. Many northern communities had laws prohibiting discrimination in public places but these laws were not always enforced and discrimination was common. The courts of the United States did nothing to block these developments. In the 1896 Plessy Vs. Ferguson decision, the Supreme Court confirmed that segregation did not violate the14th amendment as long as 'separate facilities were equal'.

By 1930 black activism had increased and was better organized but activists were still a minority and it took the New Deal to bring about more dramatic change. In 1933 Roosevelt began a hitherto unprecedented programme of government intervention to stimulate the economy and help the poor. Before 1933 the federal government had appeared uninterested in black affairs. Now the New Deal programmes helped the blacks by providing jobs and housing. Although it benefited large amounts of people, it also discriminated and tended to help only a select few.

Because of the lack of commitment by the federal government, state government's also discriminated against their black citizens. Many of the Southern states embarked on passing a series of laws all designed to prevent blacks from having any civil or voting rights. Clauses and rules were employed all because the southern whites believed that white supremacy should remain paramount.

In the months immediately following the Civil War, laws known as Black Codes were passed. They were passed by state governments that were dominated by former confederates. The Black Codes denied African Americans full civil rights. Farming and servants jobs were the only jobs they were allowed to d. They could not use firearms or vote, and were subject to many fines. If they did not pay these fines promptly, they could be forced to work for the whites, this kind of ill treatment echoed slavery. Another example of this is where Congress drafted the 14th amendment to the constitution. This amendment defined citizenship to include African - Americans and prohibited discriminatory laws like the black codes. The proposed amendment could not go into effect, however, unless three quarters of the states approved it. All the former Confederate states except for Tennessee rejected it. It took a full five years for Congress to pass it. Under the 14th amendment, any state that denied suffrage to a proportion of its adult male citizens was penalize by a reduction in state representation at Congress. Although this encouraged the states to let its black population vote, they still found ways or refused them their voting rights. It was not until the 15th amendment was passed in 1870 that all southern states were legally required to allow blacks to vote. During the 1870's, the Southern states began to design voting regulations that would prevent African - Americans from voting. Mississippi was the first state to introduce these voting regulations. Voters were required to pay poll taxes, which blacks could not afford. Voting districts were drawn n such a way that black votes were minimised. Voters were also required to sit literacy tests and also demonstrate that they owned property. These requirements were imposed and interpreted in such a way that African-Americans were often disqualified from voting. Another major requirement implemented by the state governments were the Grandfather clauses. The voter had to demonstrate that their grandfather had been a freeman if they were allowed to vote. Most, if not all could not do this.

Blacks had a very different experience of life depending on whether they lived in the North or the South of America.

In 1900 blacks constituted an economic and social under class throughout America, but particularly in the South where they lacked any political power. Blacks lacked nationally known and recognised organisations and leaders, apart from Booker T. Washington. By 1945 there had been a clear and dramatic increase in black consciousness and activism. Although segregation and political inequality remained in the South, Southern white supremacy was being slowly ebbed away by a series of legal decisions.

M. Fell Page 1 5/1/2007