Setting  To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s (the period of the Great Depression). The setting is the “Deep South,” a part of the United States whose people pride themselves on their unique way of life.

The Confederacy  Prior to 1860, Alabama’s economy was based on cotton cultivation and was highly dependent on slave labor. Culturally, their was a great deal of class division, with “elites” looking down not only on African-Americans (both slave and free) but also on low-income whites. When Abraham Lincoln’s election as President in 1860 threatened this traditional way of life, Alabama was one of 11 states to secede and form the Confederate States of America.

The Civil War  The American Civil War, lasting from , fundamentally changed the South. African-Americans could no longer be owned as slaves (although they still weren’t treated well). Great amounts of land and countless homes were destroyed during battles, leaving many families impoverished. Plantations were no longer as profitable, as they could no longer depend on slave labor.

Southern Pride  The decades following the Civil War were a time of moral, social and economic recovery, particularly in the south. While the economy in the North boomed, the people of the South suffered. Although they were not wealthy, however, most still took pride in what they saw as their unique culture.

To Kill a Mockingbird: A Study of the Changing South  To Kill a Mockingbird is set during a time when southerners still felt a deep pride for their society, even though life was increasingly difficult for them. Lee’s novel illustrates one town as it is forced to examine both the positive aspects of southern life (such as pride in one’s ancestry, a respect for traditional values, and small-town hospitality) with its history of discrimination against African-Americans and its rigid class structure.

Ancestry  Many Southerners of the 19 th and early 20 th centuries took great pride in their ancestry, and considered who their relatives were to be important to who they were. Many could proudly name their great-great- great uncles and explain what role those relatives played in the Civil War. Those who didn’t know their roots, or whose roots originated outside the South, often felt the need to justify their existence.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Simon Finch  Scout says that her family consider it “a source of shame” that the Finches weren’t in Alabama hundreds of years before. She talks about her ancestor, Simon Finch, at such length because he was the Finch who settled in Alabama and was able to make a living there.

Transition from Country to City  In the 19 th and early 20 th centuries, most Americans in the north lived in cities or towns, in apartments and neighborhood houses.  By contrast, the South had very few large towns (Atlanta and New Orleans being the main exceptions). Most families lived on small farms, referred to by Scout as “homesteads” (4), or on large farms – plantations. Many generations of a family might stay on the same homestead or plantation for decades. But by the 1930s, this was beginning to change, and more people were living in towns.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Locations  Scout’s family lived for generations on Simon’s homestead, “Finch’s Landing.” Although they weren’t extremely wealthy, they were able to capably provide for themselves through farming and cultivation.  Scout’s father and uncle are the first Finches to make a life outside of Finch’s Landing. This marks a significant change in the history of the Finch family. Monroeville, Alabama. Lee’s hometown was the inspiration for Maycomb.

Knowing Your Neighbors  In small towns all over America – not just in the South, great emphasis was placed on knowing your neighbors. Towns were communities; you knew your neighbor by name and were willing to help him without question.  Town councils, women’s groups and church groups provided a sense of community. When someone was sick, neighbors would collect money, organize prayer and provide food as a way of showing their support.  Conversely, if a person stayed to themselves and seemed unwilling to engage in community activities, they could be looked on as unfriendly or worthy of suspicion.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Maycomb Social Ties  Scout’s Aunt Alexandra insists that she attend women’s groups (an activity Scout despises), while Atticus encourages her to be kind to her neighbors (event those she hates). In these ways, the Finch family shows their respect for the neighbors and community.  The Radley family, by contrast, “kept to themselves.” For this reason, they are disliked and the subject of rumors in Maycomb.  Jem and Scout are initially wary of Dill, who is not from Maycomb, although he quickly wins them over.

Treatment of African- Americans  Although slavery was officially ended in 1865, African- Americans routinely faced discrimination and abuse well into the 20 th century. This was especially the case in the south. Segregation was widespread, the KKK launched violent attacks against African-Americans, and the majority lived in poverty as poor farmers.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Tom Robinson  In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson, an African-American man, is accused of raping a white woman. Although the accuser is widely mistrusted and her story lacks credibility, Atticus tells his children that it will be difficult to secure a conviction for Tom, because a white woman – however disliked – was almost always trusted more than a black man in 1930s Alabama.

The South Today  The Deep South retains its unique charm, and remains distinctive from the rest of the U.S. Although social conditions have improved in many ways, race is still a difficult subject there. Many find it difficult to reconcile their pride in their family and history with the history of discrimination against African-Americans.  The appropriateness of displaying the Confederate Flag is an example of this conflict. While many in the south consider the flag a part of their culture and history, many blacks consider it offensive and symbolic of a culture that oppressed and enslaved their ancestors.