Civil rights

Slavery:
a. When and how did slavery begin in the southern state?
Slavery existed as a legal institution in North America for more than a century before the founding of the United States in 1776.
b. Which country were the slaves brought from? The first English colony in North America, Virginia, first imported Africans in 1619
c. Who traditionally bought and owned the slaves? Most slaves were black and were held by whites, although some Native Americans and free blacks also held slaves. Originally held by the Spanish colonies as early as the 1560s.
d. Were there laws/rules that the slaves had to abide by? If yes what were they? death penalty for those who "aid any slave in running away or departing from his master's or employer's service." Numerous states prohibited miscegenation, but this did not deter white men's abuse of slave women.
e. How does the notion of slavery relate to the novel? Does the study of slavery help you understand the novel better?
It helps me better understand discriminations against black people.

The Civil War:
a. Identify the southern states. Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Virginia
b. Who was the US president who proclaimed war against the South?
Abraham Lincoln
c. Why was the Civil War fought?
The war was fought because Abraham Lincoln was campaigning against expansion of slavery.
d. When was this war fought?
1861-1865
e. What was the outcome of this war?
It ended with heavy casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg. Union general William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta and marched to the sea. Confederate resistance ended after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
f. How does the Civil Rights movement relate to the novel? Like Abraham Lincoln, Atticus Finch believed in civil rights and thus tried to stop discrimination against the coloured and agreed to defend a coloured client Tom Robinson.


Jim Crow’s Laws
a. What/who is Jim Crow?
Barrier preventing blacks from participating in various activities with whites.
b. What were Jim Crow Laws?
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans. In reality, this led to treatment and accommodations that were usually inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages.
c. What was the response of the slaves and the Blacks to these laws?
They loathed it as they feel very oppressed, marginalized and nobody compared to the whites which to them seems really biased.
d. Do we see the Jim Crow laws surface in the novel? If so then in which part of the novel?
Jim Crow law in ‘kill a mocking bird’ is present in terms that the accused paul robinson is convicted in raping a white woman but he, in fact did not. However, the court does not believe him and so does the jury, thus, due to jim crow laws, paul robinson was convicted of murder and was killed.


The Civil Rights Movement
a. When did the civil rights movement begin?
1950 and 1980
b. What was the civil rights movement about?
the civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law
c. State some of the significant incidents that took place in the civil rights movements (choose 2-3 incidents and state them briefly not in great detail)
Gender equity issues- female’s right to vote, education equality, have babies….
Tlatelolco massacre- political unrest and riots carried out by students as they want to exploit the attention focused on Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics. President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz

d. Which American President supported the civil rights movement?
Abraham lincoin.
e. What was the outcome of this movement?
The Blacks are treated better and they now can hold better jobs, and allowed to be at the same level at the whites
f. In what way is the Civil Rights movement related to the novel?
The novel to kill a mocking bird, states that a man cannot sleep with a white woman and that is against the law. After the civil rights movement is being implemented, this law is no longer applicable.
Montgomery Bus Boycott and Scottsboro Trials
a. State the specifics of each trial and why they were significant.
Scottsboro Trials has lasted for many years as the case was still not closed and men were charged and was sentenced to death without any proper evidence
b. How is the Scottsboro trial related to the trial in the novel?
Both were charged for raping a white woman.
c. In what way are these trials similar
Scottsboro Trials and to kill a mocking bird both have their jury made up of all whites, thus, being biased and ignored even the most clear evidences and charged the accused. Both white woman’s also use the fact that she is white and the poor to win the case, in order to avoid their own prosecution and shame.
Trials of a true Southern Belle and Southern Gentleman
a. What were the rules of etiquette for Southern gentlemen and ladies?
Southern belle:
-proper etiquette
-penmanship
-ballroom dancing
Southern Gentleman
-humility
-respect
b. What did southern ladies do to pass their time (hobbies etc)?
Helping the community and schools
c. Pictures of Southern ladies and gentlemen.





d. Identify characters in the novel that fit the mould of true southern belles and gentlemen and those who don’t. Explain why they fit the mould and why they don’t.
Southern Gentleman :
Atticus- gentleman, believes in equality(humility), has proper etiquette.
NOT! :
Bob ewell- barbaric, uncouth, discriminates blacks.
Harper Lee
a. About the author
She was an avid reader and was only 6 when the scottboro trials took place.
She was well known on campus as editor of the politcially satirical student newspaper, graduated from the university and entered law school, leaving one semester short of receiving a law degree
b. Biodata
Grew up in 1930s - rural southern Alabama town.
Father - Amasa Lee - attorney who served in state legislature in Alabama.
Older brother and young neighbor (Truman Capote) are playmates.
c. Novels written by her
• -to kill a mocking bird
• Love—In Other Words". (April 15, 1961)
• "Christmas to Me". (December 1961)
• "When Children Discover America". (August 1965)
• "Romance and High Adventure

d. Awards received
New York Times Best Seller list, it received five Academy Award nominations, winning three.
e. Why was TKAM a significant novel to her?
It was a time of tumultuous events and racial strife as the struggle in the Civil Rights movement grew violent and spread into cities across the nation, and into the American awareness on TV screens and the news.