Sean Torr

To What Extent Was The Second World War The Most Important Turning Point In The Advancement of Civil Rights For African Americans In The Period From 1865-1992 The reconstruction period is arguably the most significant turning point in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans, beginning with the 13th amendment confirming and ratifying the emancipation of the slaves. This follows with the 14th and 15th amendments, which guaranteed equal protection by the law and ensured voting could not me denied on the grounds of race or colour. Though these had little immediate effects it was significant in that it was the first time the federal government recognised equality under the law whereas previously each state could decide such matters for themselves; and also is largely significant in that it is the first time the federal government were enacting policy to combat civil rights and equality within the USA, the next time such a case would occur would be during and shortly after the Second World War. The long term effects of which are that the federal government, post changes to the constitution had now empowered itself with the ability to act upon matters regarding civil rights, whenever it saw fit. Thus the events of this period paved the way for future civil rights law. Whats more, is this period saw the first introduction of some rights for African Americans, complimenting to the significance of the turning point , never again do African Americans see such drastic change of circumstances, however the significance of this is often downplayed due to the brief period in which such conditions where sustained, owing to the introduction of the Black codes, Jim Crow Laws. However this period of enlightenment, however brief did also stand as historical memory to future generations of African Americans , the memory of this period in the sun was there to motivate other generations of African Americans to come, fighting for civil rights- something evident in the latter half of the 20th century. The period 1877-1915, the decades of disappointment, can arguably be said to be of equal significance to the advancement of African American civil rights, as compared to the reconstruction period. This is because this period, like the reconstruction period, saw drastic changes regarding African Americans within America, as well as other seemingly unimportant events, which in the long term where to play a significant role in the advancement of African American civil rights within America. This is of course referring to the fact that this period, saw the previously rebellious southern states of the USA back under the political control of the old white elite, and the introduction of the Jim Crow laws, as well as the Plessey v Ferguson court case, and subsequent ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States of America, that separate but equal conditions, regarding African Americans, was constitutional. This gave meaning to the phrase equal protection under the law as found in the 14th amendment; it was also significant in that the federal government was unable to act on civil rights. This was to have profound impact on the advancement of civil rights, in that for a considerable period following this, very little was achievable, until that Supreme Court ruling could be reversed. Another significant long term development during this period was the foundation of the NACAP, which would provide a training ground for future activists who incidentally would overturn the Supreme Court ruling in the Brown v Board of education case. The new deal era, was less significant in terms of immediate and drastic change, for the advancement of African American civil rights; hence one could argue the period saw no turning point for the advancement of African American civil rights. However, the period was again, similarly to the reconstruction period and the decades of disappointment, significant in the long term. This is because the period saw the birth of several necessary ingredients for future change. This is that the

Sean Torr

Democratic Party, of the USA underwent several internal changes, and saw significant rise in the number of black membership, it was ultimately a democratic president who would pass the civil rights act. Another significant change during this period, which would be fully appreciated in the long term, is in parts thanks to the longest presidential term ever saw, that of FDR; who during said time placed a record number of people on the supreme court, who themselves were liberals. This is significant in the future as it would be the Supreme Court, compiled by FDR that would rule that separate but equal was in fact unconstitutional (as managed by the legal team of the NACAP, representing Brown in the Brown v Board of Education case). Hence the period is less significant compared to the reconstruction period, in that though experiencing no drastic turning point in the advancement of African American civil rights, it introduced the necessary ingredients for future change. Arguably the most significant turning point in the advancement of African American civil rights was the Second World War. This is because, like the reconstruction period, it saw immediate change for African Americans, and similarly to the reconstruction period, saw the federal government taking proactive steps to enact policy to further civil rights; this period does however surpass the reconstruction period as it is the first time, during the second world war and shortly afterwards that the federal government acted against southern states to enforce legal changes that further strengthened the advancement of African American civil rights. This refers to the desegregation of the armed forces, shortly following the Second World War, which as the president as commander in cheif of the Armed Forces, would not meet opposition. Furthermore, it was a significant turning point in that following this, during the Korean War, southern white soldiers could find themselves serving under African American officers. Another example of the federal government begiing to act upon civil rights for African Americans, which justifiably was the only way such measures were ever going to prove useful in the south, was the issuing of an executive order that no government contracts were to be given to companies who discriminated on grounds of race; this saw the first enforcement of integration by the federal government since the reconstruction period ( though the latter of course, lacked as the southern states were later allowed to legalise segregation and impose loophole laws, limiting the effect of measures passed by the federal government at the time.)This also had impact on future legislation similar to ethnic monitoring forms, seen within the United Kingdom. Hence the Second World War is arguably the most significant turning point in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans. Another significant turning point for the African American civil rights movement was following the Second World War, which saw the rise of black activism. This period saw the height of the civil rights movement and the non violent campaign, the influence of such organisation like the NACAP the significance of which were becoming more apparent during this period. Furthermore, it was during this period that key supreme court rulings were passed, the most famous of which being the Brown v Board of Education giving further unbiased and reasonable backing to the 14th amendment. Whats more the period also saw the passing of key civil rights laws, bringing together the long term implications of many earlier events saw throughout the reconstruction period and the new deal era. However, the most significant influence of this would be events saw throughout the Second World War period, which kick-started the newly found motivation of the federal government to enact and enforce civil rights law, particularly in the south. AS such it is reasonable to suggest that though this period saw great advancement in the civil rights of African Americans, it only bore fruit to earlier

Sean Torr

advancements, and would not have been possible without them; hence greater significance can be placed on those early events, particularly those of the reconstruction period and the Second World War. (the former providing the federal government with the power to act on civil rights, the latter being the period in which the federal government was motivated to begin doing so). Another turning point in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans was the period after 1965, which saw the civil rights movement fragmented, where most significantly for the first time, the wider African American community of America found themselves in opposition to themselves. This is because this period saw the rise of frustrated activists rejecting non violence, and beginning to speak the language of armed resistance. Whats more the presidency of Richard Nixon and the enactment of affirmative action; which offered the intellectual young an opportunity to climb to the middle class- further splitting the African American community. This is also significant because, this gave the younger generation opportunities that had not been available previously, even if later on in 1978 more extreme forms of affirmative action were outlawed. Whats more the Presidency of Ronald Reagan also saw massive cutbacks in welfare payments, which hit the African American underclass more than any other section of society, and further separated the African American community. This period was of considerable significance as it saw for the first time, opposition to the advancement of civil rights for African Americans, in the form of African Americans apposing each other themselves. It is however out weighted by other periods, as it was in earlier times that saw the most significant advances in the civil rights movement, and not just significant develops ( similar to for instance events within the decades of disappointment and the new deal era.) Hence to conclude the most significant turning point in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans, was during the period of the second world war, a period which saw immediate changes for African Americans and also the federal government of the united states imposing and for the first time enforcing legislation that advanced civil rights for African Americans, for the long term future opposing the wishes of others, particularly the southern states of America. Another closely linked almost equally significant period would be the reconstruction period as this, also saw significant and immediate changes for the wider African American community within America, it also saw the introduction of measures which would have greater significance in the future- in some cases being the only reason some measures were capable ( such as the 14th and 15th amendment, which empowered the federal government to act on civil right, first experienced during the second world war period justifying the view that the second world war, outweighs the reconstruction period in terms of their relevant significance with regards to the advancement of civil rights for African Americans within America. Other periods such as the decades of disappointment, the new deal, the rise of black activism and post 1965, were less significant, as collectively they experienced no immediate change to the condition of African Americans within America, even if they did provide significant advances for future developments, or indeed witness development themselves ( such as the passing of key laws)a counter argument for which is that the early periods which made such developments possible, are of greater significance. Hence the Second World War is to a large extent the most significant turning point in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans in the period 1865 to 1992.

Sean Torr