Final answer:
The NAACP was formed in 1909 to secure the rights promised by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and to end racial discrimination. The Progressive Movement saw limited support for racial equality, with only a fraction of Progressives aiding the NAACP. Despite the NAACP's efforts, many challenges surrounding racial inequality persisted for years to come.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aim of the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909 to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of minority group citizens and to eliminate race prejudice. The NAACP sought to remove barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes, with a focus on securing the rights guaranteed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution. Their early efforts targeted the end of lynching and segregationist practices, discerning them as violations of constitutional amendments.
Progressive Movement Support
Although the Progressive Movement addressed various societal issues, its intervention in matters of racial equality was limited. Only a subset of Progressives actively participated in founding the NAACP and prioritized dealing with racial relations. Due to minimal governmental action and persistent challenges, African Americans continued to struggle with segregation, discrimination, and limited voting rights well beyond the era.
NAACP and Supreme Court
Led by figures like Charles H. Houston, the NAACP's cadre of lawyers used the judicial system to challenge segregation, most notably the 'Separate but Equal' status quo perpetuated by the 1896 Plessy ruling. This effort was part of the wider mission of the NAACP to ensure that the rights of minority groups were recognized and upheld in American society.