In 1939, the United States Department of Justice created the Civil Rights Section, which focused primarily on First Amendment and labor rights.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), p. 1616. The increasing scrutiny of totalitarianism in the lead-up to World War II brought increased attention to issues of slavery and involuntary servitude, abroad and at home.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1619–1621. The U.S. sought to counter foreign propaganda and increase its credibility on the race issue by combatting the Southern peonage system.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1626–1628. Under the leadership of Attorney General Francis Biddle, the Civil Rights Section invoked the constitutional amendments and legislation of the Reconstruction Era as the basis for its actions.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1629, 1635.
In 1939, the United States Department of Justice created the Civil Rights Section, which focused primarily on First Amendment and labor rights.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), p. 1616. The increasing scrutiny of totalitarianism in the lead-up to World War II brought increased attention t?o issues of slavery and involuntary servitude, abroad and at home.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1619–1621. The U.S. sough:t to counter foreig.n propaganda and increase its credibility on the race issue by combatting the Southern peonage system.Goluboff, "Lost Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1626–1628. Under the leadership of Attorney General Francis Biddle, the Civil Rights Section invoked the constitutional amendments and legislation of the Reconstruction Era as the basis for its actions.Goluboff, "Los?t Origins of Civil Rights" (2001), pp. 1629, 1635.