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To what extent were the activities of the Ku Klux Klan the main obstacle to the achievement of civil rights for black people up to 1941? - Scottish Highers History - Question 49 - 2018
Question 49
To what extent were the activities of the Ku Klux Klan the main obstacle to the achievement of civil rights for black people up to 1941?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:To what extent were the activities of the Ku Klux Klan the main obstacle to the achievement of civil rights for black people up to 1941? - Scottish Highers History - Question 49 - 2018
Step 1
Activities of the Ku Klux Klan: Terrorizing Black Communities
Answer
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) operated secretively as a terrorist organization aiming to prevent former slaves from achieving civil rights. They employed horrific tactics including nighttime raids, violence, intimidation, and lynching, which significantly instilled fear among black Americans trying to assert their rights. This created a chilling effect where many black citizens were afraid to be seen asserting their rights, therefore substantially obstructing their quest for civil rights.
Step 2
Impact of KKK Activities on Voting Rights
Answer
The KKK actively prevented black Americans from voting by stopping them at polling places. The organization also intimidated anyone who attempted to help black individuals partake in elections. This suppression of the voting rights severely hindered black citizens' ability to defend their civil rights legally and politically.
Step 3
Lack of Federal Support
Answer
Federal authorities, such as President Roosevelt during the New Deal, did not prioritize addressing the violence and oppression carried out by the KKK. Roosevelt refused to support federal legislation aimed at outlawing lynching, thereby allowing the KKK's activities to thrive unopposed during that era.
Step 4
Impact of Other Factors on Civil Rights
Answer
Beyond the KKK, other systemic issues also severely obstructed black Americans from achieving civil rights. Legal impediments enforced by southern states, such as Jim Crow laws, further entrenched segregation and discrimination. Moreover, the Supreme Court's ruling in cases like Plessy v. Ferguson legitimized racial segregation under the doctrine of 'separate but equal.' Additionally, the lack of political influence among black communities made it difficult for them to fight back against these oppressive measures.