A Nation Divided In the early post war years of the U.S. 1919-1924, our economy was booming, but many people were still suffering. The Great Migration caused a lot of tension throughout the U.S. and many times violence erupted. July 1919 – Chicago – a young African-American boy was swimming in Lake Michigan, when a white man threw rocks at him, he drowned. Police refused to arrest anyone in the incident and fights broke out on the shore of the lake between Blacks and Whites and spread to the city. The race riots lasted over a week, with White gangs committing most of the violence against Blacks and destroying property. By late 1919, around 25 similar race riots broke out across the country. September 1919 – Omaha – a White woman, Agnes Loebeck, said she was sexually assaulted by a Black man. Police brought back a suspect to her house on Bancroft street, and she identified him as Will Brown and accused him of the crime. He had rheumatoid arthritis and was 41 years old. Before they could leave her house a crowd had gathered and wanted to lynch Brown. Reinforcements arrived and they took him to the courthouse.

A Nation Divided September 1919 – Omaha – Newspaper headlines were printed that made Brown sound like a beast or a villain. After a couple days, a group of youths began marching toward the courthouse. By the time they had reached it, they were from 5,000 to 15,000 strong. They had also looted stores along the way and had guns and weapons. In front of the courthouse, they set fire to it. When the Mayor came out and tried to reason with the mob to allow firefighters to put out the fire. They knocked him over, and hung him over a street lamp. Conflicting reports tell how he was saved, but someone saved him from death. After this, the mob found Brown. He was beaten unconscious, clothes torn off, they took him to the south side of the courthouse, hung him, shot him as he hung there. They then tied his body to the back of a car, and towed him to 17th and Dodge. They then set him on fire. Lastly, they again dragged his body through the downtown streets of Omaha.

A Nation Divided Due to the Great Migration and racial tensions post WW1 – The KKK was reorganized and grew in membership during the early 20s. By 1930, membership had dwindled dramatically because the red scare hysteria had died down, the economy was booming, and publicity about the Klan’s violence and terrorism had spread throughout the country. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) formed the anti-lynching committee and proposed an anti-lynching law. It was not passed. First African American Union – Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters. Established by A. Phillip Randolph. The Pullman company (Who the car porters worked for) wouldn’t recognize it until the late 30’s. Marcus Garvey: Jamaican immigrant Wanted rights for African Americans like Du Bois. Started the Back to Africa Movement, where all Blacks in the U.S. would go to a country in Africa and make it an all black only country. Gained a large following.

A Nation Divided Marcus Garvey: Also preached Black Nationalism – or pride in being Black. Created the Universal Negro Improvement Association which had 2 goals: Create more Black owned businesses Create a Black only country in Africa. He was eventually arrested for mail fraud, and deported to Jamaica by Coolidge. Immigration Changes: Immigration Act of 1924 – limited the amount of each type of nationality that could come to America to 2% of the amount that was here in 1890. This basically meant that very few Eastern European immigrants were allowed into the U.S. during the 20s, and almost no Asian immigrants.

A Nation Divided Mexican American Migration: Men came up from Mexico mostly to cities in the southwest like El Paso, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. Once they were established, they brought their families up as well. They worked mostly agricultural jobs that others didn’t want to work. Push Factors: Little educational opportunities Economic hardship Not many jobs in Mexico American Indian Life: Native Americans had to continue to fight to keep their land and culture preserved. Bills were introduced to take Native lands and give them to non-Native people. One bill like this was called the Bursum Bill. This bill authorized non Native people to claim Pueblo land in the southwest. The Pueblo people organized and appealed to all Americans to help them keep their land. It worked and they retained their land. 1924 – All American Indians are granted citizenship. Still faced extreme poverty.