Southern Class Structure in the 1930s By: Katy Saindon Ilia Savin

Background Information • In 1929, the Great Depression struck the United States and lasted for 12 years, causing the vast majority of Americans to be in the lower class. • In the 1930s, the KKK also effected southern class structure, because they used violence and terror to intimidate the freed African Americans to keep them at a lesser class and stopped them from exercising their rights such as voting.

Racism and Sexism • Race and Gender conflicts both played an important part in Southern class structure. All African Americans were looked down on to be the lowest class in the southern society. White rich Men were looked at as the highest point in Southern society. White women were somewhere in between them.

Lower Class • The lower class of the South was very large and consisted of the laborers and almost all of the African American population. • These people lived in the slums and labored relentlessly. •There was often much discrimination and prejudice against this class.

Middle Class The middle class was small and were the white families who were poor, but not living in the slums and yet not able to rise up to the upper class. Many people in the middle class were referred to often as, “White Trash”. The upper class often looked down on these people.

Upper Class • The upper class was mostly Aristocratic families. • There were virtually no African Americans in the upper class. • The upper class dwelled in large and stately mansions. • They were referred to sometimes as, “The Southern Gentlemen and their lovely ladies”.

Key Words Racism- The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Sexism- Discrimination based on gender, especially discrimination against women. Prejudice- An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. Class- A generalized category that describes a group of people that can exist within it. Discrimination- Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit

Citations Westphal, Chris. "Migrant labor." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>. Great Depression." American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. <http://www.americangovernment.abc-clio.com>. “Ku Klux Klan.” American History.ABC-CLIO, 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. <http//www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>. • Richardson, Lystra Moore. “The South in Literature.” 2008. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. 7 Sept 2008 <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1991/1/91.01.05.x.html>