Point- The position of Black Americans improved in the years 1945-55 politically
Evidence- Morgan vs Virginia case, the vote, President Truman,
Explanation- Irene Morgan refused to give up her seat on an interstate bus and was fined $100 inevitably led to the Supreme Court prohibiting segregation on interstate transport with the help on NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall. The Morgan vs. Virginia case did not lead to a change in practice however. The situation with many rulings was still very much de jure and de facto. Black people were given the vote so they were able to vote in more sympathetic political figures. This meant that someone who sympathised black people would be able to do something about it rather than ignore the racial inequality. President Truman established a committee to investigate race relations and to safeguard the rights of minorities. The report of this committee was published in 1947 was called ‘To Secure These Rights’. It called for many drastic changes to be made to the law including changes to black voting rights, reduce lynching by introducing new legislation and to end segregated facilities such as schools and public toilets.
Link- This shows that the position of Black Americans did improve in the years 1945-55 politically.
Analysis- Despite black people being able to vote, most Southern blacks could not and the possession of the vote did not bring Nothern blacks great gains. Also, poll taxed was introduced to further put off black people voting, as it was very expensive in their eyes. Applying for the vote involved asking hard questions that didn't really have an answer such as "How many bubbles in a bar of soap". This further stopped black people politically. Despite Truman investigating into the treatment of black people, though the report called for new legislation, little action was taken meaning Black Americans had not advanced in the years 1945-55. In 1945 only two black members were elected into Congress.

Point- The position of Black Americans improved socially in the years 1945-55
Evidence- The NAACP, Brown vs The Board of Education 1, growing black middle class.
Explanation- The NAACP initiated protests in Topeka and Kansas against segregated lunch counters and in Iowa against segregated theatres. Chief Justice Earl Warren helped in the case of Brown vs The Board of Education I which led to the desegregation of schools and better education for black people. There was a slowly growing Southern black middle class in 1945. Of the 400'000 new NAACP membersin 1945, the majority were teachers, lecturers, lawyers and doctors. The GI Bill of Rights rewarded returning servicemen with a free college education which would help them find a job outside of the defence industry.
Link- This shows that the positions of Black Americans did improve in the years 1945-55.
Analysis- However these were just protests that called for action to be taken, meaning no direct action was taken to help black people. Nothern blacks were concentrated into ghettos where homesand schools for black were inferior to tose for whites. However, Brown vs The Board of Education was ineffective as it was a slow movement and the South attempted to stop it as much as possible. Hence why a second one had to be passed which showed how ineffective it was. This means that the position of black people did not improve socially in the years 1945-55. Blacks in the North suffered de facto segregation and those in the South faced de jure segregation. Nothern whites had not desire to live near blacks.

Point- The position of Black Americans improved economically in the years 1945-55.
Evidence- FEPC, WW2, Jobs in Chicago/Detroit,
Explanation- The Fair Employment Practices Committee was established to promoted equality in the defence industries. This led one-fifth of Southern cases resulting in a victory. It achieved enough to gain federal aid. But over 2 million blacks were employed due to this committee. World War 2 gave black people greater bargaining power as they could threaten to stop working until conditions were improved and wages were risen. This would help them economically as they would have more money to improve their lives. There were many jobs offered to blacks in the car industry and meat packing industries. This would be better than the other alternatives such as shoe shining.
Link- This shows that the conditions Black Americans did improve economically.
Analysis- However, two-thirds of the 8000 cases given to the FEPC were dismissed and the defeats in the South were greater than the victories. Southern congressmen successfully decreased the FEPC's funding which would make it even more ineffective. Nothern blacks were concentrated into ghettos which meant that due to poor education they would have fewer economic opportunities.