The economy of the Southern States during the era of Jim Crow was primarily based on agriculture. While the majority of Southern blacks worked in agriculture as sharecroppers and tenant farmers, others sought work in the cities of the South and North, including a small but influential black middle class. This unit looks at the economics of Jim Crow, how Jim Crow laws sustained black economic dependency, and why the rise of a black middle class challenged white supremacy.
Five class periods
Economic History, African American History, Civil Rights, Economic History
Students will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between Jim Crow laws and the economic conditions of African Americans.
- Consider the manner in which economic conditions change over time.
- Understand the relationship between economic power and political power.
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning
United States History Standard and Benchmarks
Historical Understanding Standard and Benchmarks
This lesson was prepared by: Thomas Thurston