Race and ethnicityRace and ethnicity

Contemporary race and ethnic Contemporary race and ethnic relations around the globerelations around the globe– Ethnic conflictEthnic conflict– Economic divergenceEconomic divergence– The role of immigrationThe role of immigration

Race and ethnic relations in the U.S.Race and ethnic relations in the U.S.– Native AmericansNative Americans– Slavery and Race in North AmericaSlavery and Race in North America– History of Immigration and Immigration law History of Immigration and Immigration law

in U.S.in U.S.

Contemporary race and Contemporary race and ethnic relations around the ethnic relations around the globeglobe As we learned earlier, all people As we learned earlier, all people

share the vast majority of their share the vast majority of their genetic materialgenetic material

Since people left Africa, there has Since people left Africa, there has been small-scale evolution in been small-scale evolution in traits such as skin color.traits such as skin color.

This results in clusters of This results in clusters of characteristics such as skin and characteristics such as skin and hair color that we refer to as race.hair color that we refer to as race.

Race has a social reality, so for Race has a social reality, so for social scientists it is important to social scientists it is important to study.study.

A racial group is a group of A racial group is a group of people who share certain people who share certain phenotypical features and are phenotypical features and are deemed by others to constitute a deemed by others to constitute a “race”“race”

An ethnic group shares a common An ethnic group shares a common language and culture. language and culture.

Ethnic groups are typically Ethnic groups are typically endogamous – they preferentially endogamous – they preferentially marry others within the groupmarry others within the group

Racial and ethnic Racial and ethnic conflictconflict Race and ethnicity are the basis Race and ethnicity are the basis

of much conflict in the world of much conflict in the world today.today.

E.g. Rwandan genocide of 1994E.g. Rwandan genocide of 1994 In many societies, race and In many societies, race and

ethnicity is the basis of economic ethnicity is the basis of economic inequality as well.inequality as well.

Immigration Immigration

Different ethnic and racial groups Different ethnic and racial groups are often introduced into a are often introduced into a society through immigration.society through immigration.

Often people in these groups fill Often people in these groups fill jobs in the host country that no jobs in the host country that no one else wants.one else wants.

E.g. in the Middle E.g. in the Middle East, foreigners East, foreigners fill jobs as fill jobs as drivers, drivers, caregivers, caregivers, butchers, or butchers, or retail workers.retail workers.

Race and ethnic Race and ethnic relations in the U.S.relations in the U.S. The U.S. is home to a great many The U.S. is home to a great many

racial and ethnic groups.racial and ethnic groups. Some are descendants of slavesSome are descendants of slaves Some came for better lives for Some came for better lives for

themselves, both now and in the themselves, both now and in the pastpast

Native AmericansNative Americans

When Europeans first settled the east When Europeans first settled the east coast of the U.S. they found it heavily coast of the U.S. they found it heavily settled with groups of Native settled with groups of Native Americans.Americans.

Native Americans were horticulturalists Native Americans were horticulturalists who were skilled in farming, hunting, who were skilled in farming, hunting, gathering and fishing.gathering and fishing.

No domesticated animals except dogs, No domesticated animals except dogs, no wheeled vehicles, and no writing.no wheeled vehicles, and no writing.

Early contactsEarly contacts

Native Americans had something Native Americans had something that Europeans wanted – furs- and that Europeans wanted – furs- and this began the fur trade.this began the fur trade.

Contact with whites brought alcohol Contact with whites brought alcohol and guns to Native Americans.and guns to Native Americans.

Fueled intertribal warfare and Fueled intertribal warfare and created increased deaths from warcreated increased deaths from war

Native Americans were not used to Native Americans were not used to alcohol and quickly became alcohol and quickly became addicted to it.addicted to it.

Served to break down native Served to break down native culture.culture.

Native Americans also had no Native Americans also had no immunity to European diseases.immunity to European diseases.

Many got sick and died.Many got sick and died.

Europeans often wanted Native Europeans often wanted Native American land.American land.

Sometimes settlers would “buy” Sometimes settlers would “buy” the land from individual Native the land from individual Native Americans, who did not have the Americans, who did not have the authority to sell it since the land authority to sell it since the land belonged to the community.belonged to the community.

Conflicts over land often Conflicts over land often occurred.occurred.

Usual result was the signing of a Usual result was the signing of a treaty.treaty.

Terms would be violated, and Terms would be violated, and Native Americans were slowly Native Americans were slowly pushed off their ancestral lands.pushed off their ancestral lands.

Indian RemovalIndian Removal

The program of moving Indians The program of moving Indians west of the Mississippi began in west of the Mississippi began in 1825.1825.

Andrew Jackson made it a central Andrew Jackson made it a central policy – Indian Removal Act was policy – Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830.passed in 1830.

Cherokee of North Carolina tried Cherokee of North Carolina tried to avoid being removed.to avoid being removed.

The Cherokee had developed their own The Cherokee had developed their own written language and had their own written language and had their own newspapers and schools.newspapers and schools.

1827 they formed the Cherokee republic1827 they formed the Cherokee republic Appealed the Indian Removal Act to the Appealed the Indian Removal Act to the

Supreme Court, which ruled in their favorSupreme Court, which ruled in their favor Nevertheless, they were forcibly Nevertheless, they were forcibly

removed.removed.

The trail of tearsThe trail of tears

Of the 15,000 Cherokee that Of the 15,000 Cherokee that started the trip west, nearly 4,000 started the trip west, nearly 4,000 died.died.

Slavery in North Slavery in North AmericaAmerica Europeans tried to use Native Europeans tried to use Native

Americans as slaves, but it didn’t Americans as slaves, but it didn’t workwork

Got sick and died, or ran awayGot sick and died, or ran away Africans were used insteadAfricans were used instead First as indentured servants, then First as indentured servants, then

as slaves.as slaves.

Because of the threat of slave revolt, Because of the threat of slave revolt, slaves were controlled in a number of slaves were controlled in a number of waysways

Ratio of slaves to non-slaves was kept lowRatio of slaves to non-slaves was kept low Members of the same tribes were Members of the same tribes were

separated when first brought to Americaseparated when first brought to America Illegal to teach a slave to read or writeIllegal to teach a slave to read or write White slave patrolsWhite slave patrols

Slave trade was officially Slave trade was officially abolished in 1808, but slavery abolished in 1808, but slavery continued in the southcontinued in the south

Only 25% of whites families Only 25% of whites families owned slaves, and only 12% of owned slaves, and only 12% of these owners had 20 or more these owners had 20 or more slaves.slaves.

Took the Civil War to end slavery Took the Civil War to end slavery in the southin the south

1919thth century – First great century – First great immigrant stream 1820-immigrant stream 1820-18891889 Mostly people from Ireland, Germany, Mostly people from Ireland, Germany,

UK, France and ScandinaviaUK, France and Scandinavia 1840s saw the arrival of about 1.7 1840s saw the arrival of about 1.7

million people, 1850s saw the arrival million people, 1850s saw the arrival of 2.6 million peopleof 2.6 million people

Most were Germans – largest single Most were Germans – largest single group of immigrants to U.S.group of immigrants to U.S.

West coast saw many Chinese West coast saw many Chinese immigrants (built railroads)immigrants (built railroads)

Irish went to East coast citiesIrish went to East coast cities Germans/Scandinavians went to Germans/Scandinavians went to

rural areas in mid Westrural areas in mid West Chinese settled in CaliforniaChinese settled in California

Rise of NativismRise of Nativism

Anti-Catholic on East coast Anti-Catholic on East coast (against Irish primarily)(against Irish primarily)

Anti-Asian on West coast (against Anti-Asian on West coast (against Chinese primarily)Chinese primarily)

Nativist movement: “Know-Nativist movement: “Know-nothing Party”nothing Party”

Dissolved in 1850sDissolved in 1850s

Chinese Exclusion Act Chinese Exclusion Act 18821882 Suspended immigration of Suspended immigration of

Chinese laborers for 10 yearsChinese laborers for 10 years 1882 act amended in 1884 to 1882 act amended in 1884 to

cover all Chinese regardless of cover all Chinese regardless of country of origincountry of origin

Law was extended in 1892, 1902 Law was extended in 1892, 1902 and then extended indefinitely in and then extended indefinitely in 19041904

Second Great Immigrant Second Great Immigrant Stream 1890-1924Stream 1890-1924

Italians, Jews, Bohemians, Italians, Jews, Bohemians, Bulgarians, Croatians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Croatians, Greeks, Lithuanians, Moravians, Poles, Lithuanians, Moravians, Poles, Serbs, Slovaks and SlovenesSerbs, Slovaks and Slovenes

Most settled in cities of eastern Most settled in cities of eastern seaboardseaboard

Worked as unskilled laborers on Worked as unskilled laborers on railroads or in factoriesrailroads or in factories

Anit-immigrant Anit-immigrant sentimentsentiment 1917 illiterate people were 1917 illiterate people were

ineligible to immigrate (response to ineligible to immigrate (response to the immigrants from SCE Europe, the immigrants from SCE Europe, many of whom were illiterate)many of whom were illiterate)

1921 Quota law limited immigrants 1921 Quota law limited immigrants to 3% of the U.S. residents of that to 3% of the U.S. residents of that ancestry already in the country in ancestry already in the country in 19101910

1924 National Origins 1924 National Origins ActAct Quotas became permanent with Quotas became permanent with

this Actthis Act Quotas were 3% of each Quotas were 3% of each

nationality residing in the U.S. as nationality residing in the U.S. as of the 1890 Censusof the 1890 Census

Intended to favor immigrants Intended to favor immigrants from northern and western from northern and western EuropeEurope

Anti-Asian LawsAnti-Asian Laws

Gentleman’s Agreement (1907) Gentleman’s Agreement (1907) restricted immigration from Japanrestricted immigration from Japan

1917 – creation of an Asiatic barred 1917 – creation of an Asiatic barred zone, designed to exclude all zone, designed to exclude all Asians from immigration to the U.S.Asians from immigration to the U.S.

1924 National Origins Act also 1924 National Origins Act also prohbited immigration of those prohbited immigration of those ineligble for U.S. citizenship – ineligble for U.S. citizenship – included all Japaneseincluded all Japanese

Third Great Immigrant Third Great Immigrant Stream (after 1924)Stream (after 1924)

1943 repeal of the Chinese 1943 repeal of the Chinese exclusion actexclusion act

Many European immigrants were Many European immigrants were granted asylum in U.S. after WWIIgranted asylum in U.S. after WWII

1948 Displaced Persons Act1948 Displaced Persons Act McCarren Walter Act of 1952 kept McCarren Walter Act of 1952 kept

quotasquotas Mexican “repatriation” in 1950sMexican “repatriation” in 1950s

1965 Amendments1965 Amendments

Established preferences toEstablished preferences to– Reunite familiesReunite families– Permit skilled workers to enter Permit skilled workers to enter

countrycountry– Provide asylum for political refugeesProvide asylum for political refugees

Priorities in 1965 Priorities in 1965 AmendmentAmendment 1. Unmarried sons and daughters of 1. Unmarried sons and daughters of

U.S. citizensU.S. citizens 2. Spouses and unmarried sons and 2. Spouses and unmarried sons and

daughters of lawful resident aliensdaughters of lawful resident aliens 3. Members of the professions and 3. Members of the professions and

scientists of exceptional ability and scientists of exceptional ability and their spouses and childrentheir spouses and children

4. Married sons and daughters of U.S. 4. Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and childrencitizens and their spouses and children

5. Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens 5. Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and childrenand their spouses and children

6. Skilled and unskilled workers in 6. Skilled and unskilled workers in occupations for which labor is in short occupations for which labor is in short supplysupply

7. Refugees7. Refugees Numerical limits still imposed to limit Numerical limits still imposed to limit

annual restriction from each annual restriction from each hemisphere.hemisphere.

Result was to dramatically Result was to dramatically increase the numbers of increase the numbers of immigrants of non-European immigrants of non-European descent.descent.

Asia contributed about a third of Asia contributed about a third of immigrants, Mexico and Latin immigrants, Mexico and Latin America about half.America about half.