History/Setting

 

 

 

The context of this novel is critical to its meaning and understanding.  The time period (1930's),  the Depression, and the setting of this novel are all important in understanding the outcome of the trial as well as people's attitudes in Maycomb.  It is important to realize that Atticus and Miss Maudie stand almost alone in their "progressive" attitudes during a time which was defined by Jim Crow Laws, Plessey vs. Ferguson, and outright segregation.  It is also important to realize that the publication of this novel was very timely (1960), being released in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. The historical context and implications cannot be ignored to truly understand this novel as something more than a story.  Below are some links to guide you through the historical time periods in which this novel was set and published.

RELATED LINKS: African-American History from 1901-1925 Brief History of the Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Timeline Historical Links Related to the Novel, To Kill A Mockingbird Interview: Growing Up Black in Alabama in the 1930s Interview: Growing Up White in the South in the 1930s The Scottsboro Trial