Why Are Jim Crow Laws Important In To Kill A Mockingbird

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, the ideas of racial segregation and dominance over Blacks are some of the first examples of the theme of historical influence that is presented throughout the novel. These ideologies that occurred in Maycomb, Alabama, were primarily based on the insights of Jim Crow. To expand on, the infamous Jim Crow Laws were a set of laws and a system regarding the interactions and rights between the Black minority and the White majority. The following statutes, which operated between 1877 and the 1960s, watered down the rights of African Americans and were in effect in several southern and borders states such as Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina ( Pilgrim). But even so, the appearance of Jim Crow was not uncommon in other municipalities Mr.Gilmer, the prosecutor, replies by exclaiming that Tom Robinson is suggesting that Mayella is lying. Whereas Tom Robinson on the other hand responds by saying that it is simply not true and that Mayella was not thinking in her best state (Lee). As one can tell, the Jim Crow laws were significant in the timeframe and social aspects of the 1930s including the Great Depression. However, they are only one of the many historical influences that are brought about in To Kill a Mockingbird. The Jim Crow laws play an essential part in characterizing many of the individual’s personalities in To Kill a Mockingbird. But even so, Jim Crow was only a part of the many historical influences that are illustrated throughout the storyline. In this case, the psychological effects of mob mentality are clearly evident and are shown in the story to affect the behavior of many residents. Furthermore, mob mentality is the psychological term used to describe the negative aspects of herd mentality. Herd mentality is otherwise described as the conscious thought that one takes when they are confined to groups of various sizes ( Smith). The individual loses their opinions and beliefs and are bound This is all due to the fact that mob mentality is infectious and alters the values and decisions of the individuals that take part in the harmful actions. In conclusion, mob mentality along with Jim Crow ultimately creates the last major historical in influence To Kill a Mockingbird: The influence of the Scottsboro Trials. The Jim Crow laws explain why the rights of African Americans are not treated to a respectable extent, whereas mob mentality illustrates the psychological effects of a mob and herd in the context of negative actions and feelings. When these two ideologies and laws are paired together in the same scenario, the Scottsboro Trials are the results. In this situation, the Scottsboro trials have a strong influence on many elements that are presented throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. To explain in brief, the Scottsboro Trials were a set of trials that took place throughout the 1930s due to apparent cause of rape of two white women. The reason for the trials started when several passengers were riding on a train from Tennessee to Alabama for the possible search of work on March 25, 1931 (Johnson). Some of these very passengers

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