Reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – Truman and Post-war America, 1945–1952:…

The idea

The post-war era saw contrasting experiences for African-Americans in the segregated South (Jim Crow laws) and the North (de facto segregation and redlining). The Second World War profoundly impacted civil rights, as the 'Double V' campaign and the Great Migration raised expectations and political consciousness. Campaigns for Civil Rights gained momentum through organisations like the NAACP, which pursued legal challenges against segregation, notably in higher education (e.g., Sweatt v. Painter). Responses varied significantly: federal authorities showed tentative progress, such as Truman’s Executive Order 9981 desegregating the military and his civil rights committee ('To Secure These Rights'), while Southern state authorities fiercely resisted, employing voter suppression and violence.

What earns the marks

• Compare the de jure segregation experienced by African-Americans in the South with the de facto segregation and economic discrimination in the North.
• Analyse how the Second World War, including the Double V campaign and the GI Bill's unequal application, catalysed the civil rights movement.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of early civil rights campaigns, particularly the NAACP's legal strategy targeting educational segregation.
• Assess the significance of Truman's federal actions, such as the desegregation of the armed forces, against the entrenched resistance of Southern state authorities.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the North as a region free from racial discrimination.

  Put it right: Explicitly discuss de facto segregation, housing covenants, and employment discrimination in Northern cities.

• Stating that the civil rights movement only began in the 1950s.

  Put it right: Trace the origins of the movement back to the impact of the Second World War and early NAACP legal victories in the 1940s.

• Overstating Truman's success in passing civil rights legislation.

  Put it right: Clarify that while Truman used executive orders, his legislative civil rights proposals were blocked by Southern Democrats in Congress.

Exam tips

• Use specific examples of NAACP legal cases from the Truman era to demonstrate the groundwork being laid for later landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education.
• Contrast the federal executive response (Truman's orders) with the legislative response (congressional blocking) to provide a nuanced view of federal action.
• Discuss the demographic shift of the Second Great Migration to explain the changing political influence of African-Americans in Northern states.