To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the 1930s in the American South. It was a time of economic hardship during the Great Depression when many people were unemployed. It was also a period of legalized racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans through Jim Crow laws. The novel addresses themes of racism and injustice that were prevalent at the time through the trial of a black man falsely accused of a crime.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird
Introduction Notes

2. The Great Depression
• October 1929 – The Stock Market crashed
following a decade of thriving economy after
World War I.
• People had no work and no one was hiring.
• Men jumped trains to travel and look for work.
• The government began to create programs to
develop jobs to help the economy.

3. Segregation
• The separation of races or genders for a
purpose.

4. Racism
• Discrimination of another race for reasons
such as supposed superiority.

5. Jim Crow Laws
• Created legalization of segregation by
establishing separate but equal facilities.

6. Scottsboro Trials
• A legal case in the 1930’s
• Two white prostitutes accused nine black
boys of gang rape on a train.
• The boys were convicted and sent to
prison.
• Eventually, the boys were freed.

7. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Leader in the Civil Rights Movement
during the 1960’s.
• Peaceful demonstration.
• Worked to secure rights for all races.

8. Civil Rights Movement
• Slavery ended in the 1860’s
• MLK encouraged peaceful demonstrations
and the structure of the government to
make the changes.

9. 1930’s
• Big Band Music
• Radio Shows
• Hobos
• The Great Depression

10. 1960’s
• MLK
• Rosa Parks
• Hippies
• Beatles
• CRM
• Rock – n- Roll