Final answer:
The NAACP was established in 1909 to fight against segregation and injustice towards African Americans, using legal challenges, lobbying, research, and publications like The Crisis as methods to advance political and civil rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Formation and Methods of the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established in 1909 in the aftermath of racial tensions and violence, notably the Springfield race riot. It was an initiative spearheaded by activists including W.E.B. Du Bois, who sought remedy against the restrictive laws and ordinances targeting African Americans post-Reconstruction. The founders objected to Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Compromise, advocating instead for a direct approach to safeguard political rights and enforce the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The NAACP adopted a multi-faceted strategy, involving legal challenges against segregation, promoting educational opportunities, and a scientific study of Black schools. Influential voices like Du Bois utilized The Crisis magazine to advocate for civil rights, creating a platform for social and political change.
The methods used by the NAACP to advance political rights for African Americans included legal actions challenging segregation and discrimination, lobbying for political reforms, voter mobilization, and conducting and disseminating research to push for educational equalities. The NAACP and its legal arm managed to influence landmark Supreme Court cases, deconstructing the legal basis of 'Separate but Equal' and fostering national discussions on civil rights.