Assignment: The Chicago Race Riot Analysis Exercise
Directions: Read the 1919 Race Riot Documents written by the Chicago Commission on Race Relations.
Type in The Negro in Chicago (Open Library) or
This should bring up the text. Look under ID Numbers and find Internet Archive
Click onnegroinchicagost00chicrich located to the right of Internet Archive
Click on Read Onlinelocated under View the book
Read from Chapter XI. Summary of the Report and Recommendations of the CommissionI.The Chicago Riot pp. 595 - 602.
1) What did thoughtful citizens sense? Why was nothing done to prevent the riot?
2) What was known to the authorities? What was evident by these actions?
3) What events preceded the actual riot?
4) What role did the press play in aggravating racial tension?
5) What role did white gangs play in the community preceding the actual riot? Were the actions known by the community?
6) What actions did the police take to ease racial tension?
7) How did black and white members of the community respond to the murders of Sanford Harris and Joseph Robinson?
8) What was conspicuously posted preceding the riot?
9) What was evidenced as a result of race riots?
10) What other factors led to the riot in Chicago?
11) What was generally observed by both races in the water?
12) What events marked the beginning of the riot?
13) What happened to Negroes living amongst whites?
14) What did Mayor Thompson finally do after four days of rioting?
15) Responsibility for many attacks was placed upon whom?
16) What provoked many of the clashes?
17) Describe the role of the press in promoting rumors. What group of people was actually warned by the police to arm?
18) What did Negroes feel toward the police? Were their feelings justified? Why?
19) When did the governor order militia into the city? Why were they not used until the fourth day?
20) Were the beliefs of the mayor and chief of police concerning the militia validated by the militia's actions? Describe the militia's actions.
21) What did social organizations do during the hostilities?
22) What happened despite the community's failure to deal firmly with those who had disturbed its peace?
23) When did most of the rioting occur? What role did gangs play in mob formations?
24) What role did rumors play and what organization was primarily responsible?
25) Why did both races have more confidence in the militiamen rather than the local police?
26) The riot was a symptom of what? What was done to understand the riot and guard against another?