Maycomb County
· The novel is set in Maycomb County – which is fictional, but based upon several actual towns in the Deep South.
· Racism was very common and acceptable in the area.
· Slavery had been abolished officially, however the majority of negroes still worked as maids and household assistants.
· Very few rights were given to black people, and this could be easily changed by a black governmental figure. However, the Jim Crowe law was introduced at that time, which stated that only those that had relatives who voted before the civil war could vote, all of which were white males. As such, black people were kept out of the loop.
· Maycomb is predominantly inhabited by the same families that had lived there for generations. Few people arrived, as there was nothing to attract them, and few people left, as it was too much effort. Because of this, Maycomb is quite cut off from the rest of the world.
· Maycomb is very absolute about separating the white community from the black community. The courthouse is divided into upper and lower floors for black and white people respectively, and blacks have their own community outside of Maycomb with separate living and even a separate church.
· Racism was very common and acceptable in the area.
· Slavery had been abolished officially, however the majority of negroes still worked as maids and household assistants.
· Very few rights were given to black people, and this could be easily changed by a black governmental figure. However, the Jim Crowe law was introduced at that time, which stated that only those that had relatives who voted before the civil war could vote, all of which were white males. As such, black people were kept out of the loop.
· Maycomb is predominantly inhabited by the same families that had lived there for generations. Few people arrived, as there was nothing to attract them, and few people left, as it was too much effort. Because of this, Maycomb is quite cut off from the rest of the world.
· Maycomb is very absolute about separating the white community from the black community. The courthouse is divided into upper and lower floors for black and white people respectively, and blacks have their own community outside of Maycomb with separate living and even a separate church.