History of Racial Directions: Read the information below and answer the questions that I Slavery: Slavery was the brutal forced labor of millions of kidnapped Africans brought to the colonies (paul then the United States) from 1618-1865. Slaves were brought to the colonies to help plant and harvest grind They lived in horrible conditions, with little food, beatings and whippings, rape, murder; they were not allowed to learn to read or own weapons or personal property. The issue of slavery divided the nation and the Civil War was fought between the anti-slavery Northern Union and the pro-slavery Southern Confederacy, The North won the war and the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal, was added to the Constitution Segregation/Jim Crow Laws: When slavery ended, the South immediately passed a series of laws that discriminated and protected the white power structure that was in place. Although the 14th and 15th Amendments ensured rights for African Americans, many states passed laws to lessen or eliminate these rights. African Americans didn't gain most of these rights back until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. Lynching: Between 1882 and 1968, 4,743 people were lynched in the U.S.; 73% were black and the other 27% were white people being punished for helping them, or for domestic crimes. Lynching is the unlawful murder by an angry mob. (www.naacp.org) War on Drugs: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton adopted new laws to fight the "war on drugs." These laws, such as the Three Strikes Law, introduced mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug crimes. This led to a huge increase in incarcerations, especially for people of color. Although African Americans comprise 13% of the U.S. population, they comprise nearly 40% of those incarcerated in state or federal prisons on drug violations. National jail populations skyrocketed and African-Americans and Latinos now make up almost half the total U.S. prison population. Voting Rights: One of the major effects of incarcerations for nonviolent drug felonies, or any felony, is that in 48 states, you can no longer vote while in prison for a felony. Even after serving your time, nine states do not allow or restrict voting rights for felons. 1. Did the end of slavery end racism or bring true equality? Explain. 2. Did the end of legal segregation in the 1960s end racism or bring true equality? Explain. 3. Can laws ever end racism, and which laws would you change in order to ensure all citizens are represented fairly and equally? Explain