The Great Depression Race Relations

Pre-Statehood Era: 1700-1818

• Pre-Statehood Era- Government
• Pre-Statehood Era- Society and Culture
• Pre-Statehood Era- Business and Economy
• Pre-Statehood Era- Race Relations

Early Statehood: 1818-1861

• Early Statehood- Government
• Early Statehood- Society and Culture
• Early Statehood- Business and Economy
• Early Statehood- Race Relations

Civil War Era: 1861-1865

• Civil War- Government
• Civil War- Society and Culture
• Civil War- Business and Economy
• Civil War- Race Relations

Late 19th Century: 1866-1900

• Late 19th Century- Government
• Late 19th Century- Society and Culture
• Late 19th Century- Business and Economics
• Late 19th Century- Race Relations

Early 20th Century: 1900-1914

• Early 20th Century- Government
• Early 20th Century- Society and Culture
• Early 20th Century- Business and Economy
• Early 20th Century- Race Relations

World War I: 1914-1918

• World War I- Government
• World War I- Society and Culture
• World War I- Business and Economy
• World War I- Race Relations

Roaring Twenties: 1918-1929

• Roaring Twenties- Government
• Roaring Twenties- Society and Culture
• Roaring Twenties- Business and Economy

Great Depression: 1930-1941

• Great Depression- Government
• Great Depression- Society and Culture
• Great Depression- Business and Economy
• Great Depression- Race Relations

World War II: 1941-1945

• World War II- Government
• World War II- Society and Culture
• World War II- Business and Economy
• World War II- Race Relations

Cold War Era: 1946-1991

• Cold War Era- Government
• Cold War Era- Race Relations

Millennium: 1991-Present

• Millennium- Government
• Millennium- Race Relations

Lesson Plans

• Lesson Plans
• Discussion Questions
• Historic Literature
• Civilian Conservation Corps

Resources

• About Us
• Links
• Citing the Source

African American

Letter Concerning Race Relations at the University of Illinois, October 23rd, 1937

• This letter to the Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture from the Associate Superintendent of the Food and Dairies Division states that a food inspector is being sent undercover to investigate accusations of "food adulteration" to meals of black patrons of lunchrooms in Champaign-Urbana. This ruining of meals was attempted to stop integration of restaurants near the newly integrated University of Illinois.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Document 44. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 10/27/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/wpapos/item/doc44.html

On Stage America's Greatest Colored Musical Review "Dixie to Broadway," WPA Poster, 1937

• During the Great Depression, the Roosevelt administration commissioned artists through the Works Progress Administration to create posters, some promoting African-American cultural events and history. While we find elements of these events and language offensive today, they reflect the reality of the 1930s. This poster is about African American entertainers, performances and portrayals. This is a poster for the Federal Theatre Project presentation of "Dixie to Broadway" at the Lincoln Theatre, Decatur, Illinois, showing a chorus girl, band and cotton plant.

• Citation: “On Stage America’s Greatest Colored Musical Revue ‘Dixie to Broadway,” Chicago: Globe Poster Corp., 1937, accessed through WPA Posters collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/item/98516900/

Cavalcade of the American Negro: Story of the Negro's Progress During 75 Years, WPA Poster, 1940

• This poster was created for a book about African American history, showing a man holding a broken chain and lamp.

• Citation: “Cavalcade of the American Negro: The Story of the Negro’s Progress During 75 Years, Compiled by the Illinois Writer Project / Cleo,” Chicago: Illinois WPA Art Project, 1940, accessed through WPA Posters collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/wpapos/item/89710373/

Hispanic American

Poem by an Elderly Migrant Worker in Anna Illinois, 1940

• This poem was written by an elderly migrant worker and recorded by E.A. Bierbaum in Anna, Illinois. It is intended to reveal the philosophy and attitude of the migrant worker.

• Citation: Gazette-Democrat, May 1940. This poem is used by permission of the Anna Gazette-Democrat.

Other Minorities

Telegram from the U.S. Secretary of State Concerning Potential Harm to German Persons and Interests, November 12th, 1938

• The Secretary of State sent this confidential document to the Governor of Illinois expressing concerns for German citizens following the German invasion of the the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, which escalated tensions between America and Germany.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Document 46. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 10/27/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/hard_times/doc46.html