Question 1

Who was the most prominent black person associated with the NAACP in the early twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

W. E. B. Du Bois was the most prominent black person associated with the NAACP in the early twentieth century. He helped found the organization in 1909 and served as its director of research and editor of its magazine, The Crisis, for many years. He was a leading voice in the fight against racial discrimination and inequality, and his work had a significant impact on the civil rights movement.

Question 2

What was Washington's nickname?

Accepted Answer

Booker T. Washington was often referred to as the "Wizard of Tuskegee" due to his influential role in the development of the Tuskegee Institute and his impact on African American education and leadership.

Question 3

Who was described by one critic as the "Benedict Arnold of the Negro Race"?

Accepted Answer

Booker T. Washington was described as the "Benedict Arnold of the Negro Race" by some critics due to his Atlanta Compromise speech, where he suggested that African Americans should focus on economic self-improvement rather than pushing for immediate civil rights, a stance that some saw as too accommodating to white interests.

Question 4

What book, written by W. E. B. Du Bois, was one of the major literary accomplishments of the twentieth century and contained his first formal attack on Washington?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What book, written by W. E. B....

Question 5

How did men like William Monroe Trotter feel about Booker T. Washington's efforts and views?

Accepted Answer

William Monroe Trotter was a vocal critic of Booker T. Washington's views and efforts. He felt that Washington was too accommodating towards the white power structure and not doing enough to advocate for full equality for African Americans. Trotter believed in a more confrontational approach to achieving civil rights.

Question 6

What was the role of the "Talented Tenth," according to Du Bois?

Accepted Answer

According to Du Bois, the "Talented Tenth" referred to the top ten percent of African Americans who were educated and capable of leading and working towards achieving civil and political rights for African Americans. They were seen as a group that could bring about change through their leadership and activism.

Question 7

What was the significance of the Guinn v. United States case in 1915?

Accepted Answer

The Guinn v. United States case in 1915 overturned the grandfather clause in Oklahoma, which had allowed white people to vote even if they were illiterate or did not meet other voting qualifications, while denying the same right to black people. This was a significant victory for black voting rights and helped pave the way for future legal challenges to discriminatory voting laws.

Question 8

What methods did the NAACP use to try to gain black civil and political rights?

Accepted Answer

The NAACP primarily used legal and legislative channels to challenge discrimination and racial injustice, including cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and lobbying for civil rights legislation. They also engaged in grassroots organizing and public education campaigns. The organization did not advocate or engage in violence. They also did not have a focus on discrediting individuals or limiting funding to particular institutions, such as Tuskegee.

Question 9

What is not true about Du Bois's and Washington's approaches to improving the condition of black men?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is not true about Du Bois's...

Question 10

Which of the following was not an element of Booker T. Washington's famous speech at the Atlanta Cotton States Exposition in 1895?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following was not an...

Question 11

What types of political activities was Washington supporting behind the scenes?

Accepted Answer

Washington was a supporter of civil rights for African Americans, and he actively worked to challenge both segregation on trains and the grandfather clause, which prevented many African Americans from voting. While he may have occasionally made statements or taken actions that could be interpreted as supporting white supremacy, overall his efforts were focused on promoting equal rights for all.

Question 12

What did the Niagara Movement demand in 1905?

Accepted Answer

The Niagara Movement, founded by a group of African American leaders including W.E.B. Du Bois, demanded vigorously protesting for black rights, better schools, housing, and an end to racial prejudice. They believed in direct action and push for immediate change instead of accepting segregation and discrimination.

Question 13

What type of political influence did Booker T. Washington have?

Accepted Answer

Booker T. Washington had a significant political influence for a black man at the time. President Theodore Roosevelt respected him and consulted with him regularly on political appointments. Washington was also seen as a spokesperson for the African American community and regularly advised on racial issues by politicians and leaders.

Question 14

How did Du Bois's background shape his views, just as Washington's shaped his?

Accepted Answer

Du Bois was born free in the North and had access to a good education, which influenced his belief in the importance of higher education and civil rights for African Americans.

Question 15

What is true about the early NAACP?

Accepted Answer

White leaders, specifically a group of mostly white liberal activists and philanthropists, founded and initially financed the NAACP.

Answer: C 
 The NAACP initially followed the slow and gradual strategy of Booker T. Washington, avoiding direct confrontation with the Jim Crow system and focusing on legal and political channels to bring about change.

Question 16

The Niagara Movement leaders stated, "We repudiate the monstrous doctrine that the oppressor should be the sole authority as to the rights of the oppressed." What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The statement means that the Niagara Movement leaders reject the idea that only the oppressors (whites) should have the authority to determine the rights of the oppressed (blacks). Instead, they demand an active role in determining their own rights and rejecting white supremacy.

Question 17

How did Booker T. Washington react to the new Niagara Movement?

Accepted Answer

Booker T. Washington was known to have used his influence to undermine the Niagara Movement, which was led by W.E.B. Du Bois and opposed Washington's more accommodationist approach to racial issues. Washington reportedly paid newspaper reporters to criticize Du Bois and the movement.

Question 18

How did the typical Progressive reformer feel about racism?

Accepted Answer

Most Progressive reformers were racist themselves and showed little interest in altering white supremacy.

Question 19

How did white people react to Washington's speech?

Accepted Answer

Washington's speech was widely praised by white audiences, who saw it as a reasonable and non-threatening approach to racial reconciliation. Many prominent white leaders, including President Theodore Roosevelt, endorsed Washington's message and advocated for greater cooperation and understanding between the races. While there were certainly some who opposed Washington's ideas, they were largely in the minority and did not represent the mainstream response to his speech.

Question 20

What event caused uproar in the South, as a breach of racial etiquette by the president himself?

Accepted Answer

Roosevelt inviting Washington to dinner was a breach of racial etiquette, as it was considered unacceptable for a black person to dine with a white person in the South during that time period. This event caused a lot of uproar and controversy in the region.

Quiz 16: Conciliation, Agitation, and Migration: African Americans in the Early Twentieth Century