Slavery began in 8000 BC and expanded greatly in the southern US states in the 1700-1800s, where black slaves worked large plantations and had no rights. The Civil War from 1861-1865 was fought over the issue of slavery, with the North defeating the South. After the war, Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation and discrimination despite the end of slavery, which is the context of Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird".

1. LAP: research assignment

2. Slavery Began in 8000 BC People began to immigrate to the southern states, and settlers cleared land, and built plantations which used black slaves Whites traditionally bought slaves

3. slavery Slaves had no right in the society Slaves were bought from Africa Slaves lived around Maycomb, and worked for the whites in the middle of the town.

4. The civil war The southern states were Florida, Georgia, Maryland, north Carolina, south Carolina, Virginia, west Virginia, and Delaware Abraham Lincoln proclaimed war against the southern states Lincoln felt that slavery was unfair and declared war against the southern states because they allowed slavery

5. The civil war Civil war was fought between 1861 and 1865 The southern states were defeated The story takes place during the times when the civil rights movement was just starting to pick up steam

6. Jim Crow laws A Jim Crow is an African American These laws caused segregation of public schools, public places, and facilities

7. Jim Crow Laws The blacks felt that the laws were unfair, and even tried to break them Jim Crow laws do not surface in “to kill a mockingbird”

8. The civil rights movement Occurred during 1950 and 1980 Aimed for equal rights for Blacks and Whites Events like the march for freedom and jobs in Washington, formation of NAACP

9. Civil rights movement Supported by Abraham Lincoln The civil war erupted, and the southern states surrendered, resulting in equality of both the entire united states The civil rights movement relates in the sense that although the southern states were defeated, slavery still remains de facto.

10. Scottsboro trials Accusations against some black boys came up. Two white girls accused the boys of raping them Trial was similar to Tom Robinson’s case

11. Scottsboro trials Both trials are similar in the fact that the case was unfair, and there was an all white jury

12. Traits of a southern Belle and gentleman A southern belle is an archetype for a young woman in the south’s upper class

13. Traits of a southern Belle and gentleman A southern gentleman is an archetype for a young man in the south’s upper class

14. Harper Lee Won the Pulitzer prize for “to kill a mockingbird”, and it still remains her only published piece of work Born 1926 Other works include ‘when children discover America’ and ‘Christmas to me’