MOCKINGBIRDCONTEXTUAL INFORMATION

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JIM CROW LAWSEnforced racial segregation in the 1980s to the 1960s

! Legal punishments followed for those who did not

obey these laws. !

Here are some examples of the laws: Segregation of schools, public places, transport,

restaurants and water fountains. !

This can be seen all around maycomb, but particularly in the “black church” with Calpurnia.

KKK (KLU KLUX KLAN)Performed violent public acts, such as lynching.!

!The mob going or Tom Robinson was going to “lynch” him.

!Terrorism and violence against black americans

!all about dat white supremacy.

GREAT DEPRESSIONCaused by the Wall Street crash of 1929.

!People used it as an advantage to take from each other

!It hit the south especially hard, followed by poor weather.

!Lead to poverty, where everybody was desperate and

turned against each other !

Discontent grew in black and whites alike.!!

“maycomb was recently told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself”

ROSA PARKSHard working, black woman coming home from

work… !

Refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white man

!Set off peaceful and violent protests throughout the

southern states.

AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Black people began to speak out and some even protested. !

People started to become against segregation for racism in the US.

!Blacks started to become empowered and things started to change and become more fair between blacks and whites

and equality started to show through. !

Mockingbird could be seen as a catalyst for the movement. !

Book was published in the height of the movement.

SCOTTSBORO BOYS 9 Black youths accused or raping two (white) prostitutes

!very compelling evidence against them - one of them was blind

and not even found in the same carriage. !

Unfair trial with white jury - all sentenced to death apart from 12 year old.

!(harper lee was a child, took place in Alabama)

!Malicious claim (just like Tom Robinson)

!Tried Unfairly (like Robinson trial)

!All white jury (like Robinson trial)

!Blacks against whites (like trial)

All of these could have had big influences in Harper Lee’s novel:

Scottsboro Trials Ku Klux Klan

Rosa Parks

Jim Crow Laws

Great Depression

American Civil Rights Movement

MOCKINGBIRDHARPER LEE

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FAMILY + BACKGROUNDFather was an lawyer who was unsuccessful at defending 2

black guys accused or murder. !

Brother was four years her senior. !

Mother was quite distant!!

African-American housekeeper employed - central in Lee’s upbringing.

!Truman Persons (Capote) provided the model for Dill - he

spent long periods visiting in the summer.!