Brenen Ketchum

Professor Case
HIST 2200
3 August 2017
Historical Essay

The first European immigrants to America established what it meant to be American.

Since they were the majority, their culture and behavior often demanded conformity and
rejected certain characteristics. Native Americans, African Americans, and many other
immigrants faced numerous obstacles in being accepted into America. Many were marginalized,
discriminated, and subject to repression.

First, the Native

Americans faced many
obstacles. The biggest
mistreatment was the
encroachment of new settlers
on their land. The three events
that greatly altered the Native
American way of life and
survival were first, The
Homestead Act of 1862,
allowing hundreds of
thousands of whites to secure
160-acre tracts of land in the
great plains. The second event
was the completion of five
continental railroads. The third
was the disappearance of
buffalo herds.
Although each of these events contributed to increased hardships for the Native
Americans, I believe the disappearance of buffalo had the greatest negative impact on the
Native Americans. The white people tried to use buffalo as a way to force Indian people on
reservations. But that wasnt the only reason for the disappearance of buffalo. Many buffalo
herds contracted diseases just like cattle. Severe winter weather in the years of 1887 and 1888
killed millions of animals on the great plains. Through the eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries, Blackfoot followed the movements of buffalo in bands composed of 20 to 30 families.
The territory ranged from the edge of the Saskatchewan forests in the north to the Missouri
River country to the south. With the near extinction of buffalo herds in 1883, the traditional
economy was destroyed and many died from starvation (Everyculture/Blackfoot/Employment
and Economic Traditions). The economy was in ruin.
When the federal government made it easy for white settlers to obtain land by agreeing
to live on the claim and make annual improvements. The free public domain land caused a mass
migration that Imposed extraordinary pressures on the Plains Indians (Olson and Beal p.70). If
the government hadnt given away the Indians land to whites, the whites were encroaching on
Indian land, causing major conflicts. However, Indians could survive with major conflicts and
smaller plots of land. But without food, and the economy the buffalo provided, the Indians
faced starvation.
The railroads aggravated the [Plains Indians] situation because the roads sold parcels
of their land grants to white farmers (Olson and Beal p.70). Once again, Plains Indians were
being forced to relocated as their land was being taken by white settlers. Do to fraudulent
traders and increased settlers, many Dakota Sioux rebelled, killing hundreds of whites More
than 300 Sioux were convicted and sentenced to death. Ironically, all the land was the Indians in
the first place and when they tried to do something about it they were punished in a way that
mirrored their efforts.
Paiutes fought to keep land surrounding Pyramid lake that was guaranteed them in 1859
and the Taos had to fight for Blue Lake. This land meant so much to them they wouldnt accept
any cash amount. They were a simple people and just wanted the sacred land that was rightfully
theirs.
There was more contention and hostility on the plains with the discovery of black hills
gold in South Dakota. This brought thousands of white miners to land that had been given to
the Sioux. the federal government hedged on its promise and asked them to leave. They
refused, and the Department of the Interior ordered them out of the Black Hills. The Native
Americans were pushed around and taken advantage of, promises could be broken, land could
be stole, and rights taken away, until they became a lost culture.
The number of Native American throughout time has been in decline and their culture,
and language have nearly disappeared. Those remaining Native Americans were encouraged to
assimilate into American Society. This was for the benefit of America as fewer Indian
reservations need to be kept for the Natives. Education played a big role for Native Americans as
they were encouraged to get a public education. Natives were marginalized when America
needed to expand westward, but once only a fraction remained, America accepted Native
Americans with warm arms.
 Another group to face
marginalization was the African
Americans. African-Americans were
without a doubt considered less equal
compared to Native Americans. Native
Americans were not considered to be
Americans but instead were treated like
foreigners or "independent nations"
(Olson and Beal p. 198). On the other
hand, African-Americans weren't
recognized as citizens even though they
had their new granted freedom. "Finally, many whites felt socially vulnerable after
emancipation. To restore the control they had once exercised over blacks, whites began
enacting 'Jim Crow' laws late in the 1880's" (Olsen and Beal p. 207). Jim Crow laws allowed for
segregation, the mistreatment of African-Americans, and prevented them from participating in
politics. Native Americans were given many opportunities to assimilate into American culture.
They were offered land grants, access to public education, and treated better with time.
Americans helped the remaining Native Americans. In contrast, Americans despised and torn
down African-Americans. Much more effort was required by African-Americans before better
treatment was in place. Desegregation activists such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and
Malcolm X had their work cut out for them. (http://www.everyculture.com/North-
America/African-Americans-History-and-Cultural-Relations.html (Links to an external site.)Links
to an external site.). The power structure favored the majority, comprised mostly of whites. This
allowed for more regulation preventing blacks from obtaining power. The Grandfather clause
made it impossible for African-Americans to get any political access.
I believe African-Americans are still stereotyped as being violent and unwilling to
conform to laws. An example of this would be unnecessary brutality from law enforcing officers.
Historically we saw this in the case of Rodney King in Los Angeles. "On March 3,1991, four Los
Angeles police officers, after a high-speed chase, used night sticks to subdue Rodney King, the
African-American driver of the car involved" (Olson and Beal p. 262). The press received secret
video tapes from a witness proving police using racial slurs. When an all-white jury acquitted
the officers, African-Americans were outraged. This incident lead to riots in Los Angeles, injuring
and killing many people and destroying millions in property.
"Despite the advancements made by African Americans in politics and business, gang
violence continued to plague African American communities in the 1990s" (African
Americans/Politics and Government/gang violence). Gangs are still very prevalent today.
Although gangs are a type of family for certain individual, they form strong bonds that often
make issues bigger and more public. The stereotypical gang member has frequently include
African-Americans. This leads to unnecessary fear of African-Americans. Just like any other race
they too have well respected law upholding members. Cases of police brutality are becoming
less frequent, however, those that happen are seen on social media by many. Social media is an
advocate for African-American equality because it brings issues to attention. The social pressure
to ensure equality from police officers to African-Americans is still prevalent today.
 The Irish, in my opinion, had a difficult time as well being accepted into America because
they had little money and few skills. Being in the United States, magnified feelings the Irish had
against English politics. Some Yankees questioned Irish allegiance, doubting that they could
become true Americans because of dual loyalty to a religious monarchy and a liberal
democracy (Olson and Beal p. 41). Many Anglo Americans would not accept Irish immigrants as
white people because of their Roman Catholic belief and extreme poverty. They were
considered slightly higher than slaves and free blacks on the social ladder. The Irish lived in
shacks made of crates and paper, sewer ran through their streets, subjecting them to rats,
cholera, and lice. These poor conditions caused many Irish to engage in criminal activity and
prostitution.
Olson and Beal list many problems faced by Puerto Ricans in America. One problem was
the racial wedge that developed because of the different colors of their skin. Puerto Ricans who
were white were more privileged than the black Puerto Ricans that looked similar to African
Americans. Another problem was Puerto Ricans had less access to institutions that effected
their lives. For example, the Irish controlled the Catholic Church and other ethnic groups
dominated the labor unions in New York City (Olson and Beal p.276). A third problem was that
Puerto Ricans were hurt economically by language and cultural values. They were prideful
people and would not speak English. Because of this, their education levels fell below the
nations average. Finally, a fourth reason, was the extreme poverty-level, which ranked highest
among the nations ethnic groups. Nearly 40% of Puerto Ricans received welfare assistance,
which doused their spirits of being successful. I believe the problem of their language and
cultural values led to the most marginalization of Puerto Ricans. many other Americans fail to
realize that Puerto Ricans are natural-born American citizens or wrongly view their native island
as a primitive tropical land of grass huts and grass skirts. Puerto Rican culture is often confused
with other Latino American cultures, especially that of Mexican Americans (Every culture/
Puerto Rican Americans/Misconceptions and Stereotypes).
For Puerto Ricans different colors of skin proved less of a challenge because white
Puerto Ricans aligned with white Americans and black Puerto Ricans emphasized their Spanish
language to differentiate themselves from the African Americans. White Puerto Ricans were not
marginalized at all by comparison to black ones. Since color of skin caused more contentions
within Puerto Ricans it had less of an impact on them being accepted into America.
Open housing laws and welfare housing assistance dispersed the population
throughout the cities, weakening their political clout (Olson and Beal p.276). Without the
strong political forces, many Puerto Ricans were left powerless. Even though this problem didnt
cause the most marginalization, Puerto Ricans suffered because they didnt hold stewardship
over anything.
With the problem of poverty, I feel Puerto Ricans brought it on themselves because they
refused to speak English, they distrusted large organizations, and they moved to cities when job
opportunities were moving to the suburbs. The Puerto Ricans need education to qualify for
technical jobs available. Finally, in 1961 they established Aspira to help them get to college.
Aware that young people needed positive images, the Forum, Aspira, and the Conference on
Puerto Rican Education became the most active groups in the Puerto Rican community (Olson
and Beal p 277). Puerto Ricans faced many problems that ultimately led to them being
marginalized in America.
 Haiti had become the poorest country in the western hemisphere causing many to flee
the island and venture the 800 mile journey across the Caribbean to the United States. When
they arrived in America they were not welcomed. Americans concerned that Haitians would
take available jobs and Cuban, Irish, and Italian Catholics resented their arrival. The federal
government claimed Haitians were leaving their island for economic reasons so they didnt fall
under the United States immigration laws for political repression. Haitians wanted to come to
America so badly that they would overpack small rickety boats in the hopes that when they
arrive in America they could find a way to stay. Unlike Cuban immigrants, who were accepted
immediately upon arriving in Florida, Haitians have been jailed in Florida and Puerto Rico while
the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) evaluated claims for refugee status and
deported thousands (Olson and Beal p.302). During the Regan and Bush administrations, the
Coast Guard was ordered interdict Haitian boats before they reached American waters. Bill
Clinton gave the Haitians hope, inspiring hundreds of thousands of them to consider
immigration. This mass migration threaten political crisis and Clinton quickly retracted his
invitation to help.
The Haitians wanted to come to America more than anything. They were in survival
mode because they wanted to make a better life for their families but America just wouldnt let
them come. On the other hand West Indians didnt come because their economy was ruined
and felt necessary to survive. They came for a better life but they brought their education,
talent, and skills with them.
Many immigrants suffered many hardships and challenges in coming to America. Many
didnt get accept into Americas culture right away. Each group of immigrants is unique in the
challenges they faced. Native Americans were removed and relocated, African Americans faced
segregation, and other nations faced everything from poverty and deportation. America has not
been kind to most immigrants. It is important that America is open to immigration since the
foundation of America is based on freedom and immigration.
 Reflection
This class has opened my eyes to the extreme brutality and lack of manors shown to
Native Americans, African Americans, and immigrants. I believe in the gold rule, do unto others
as you would have others do unto you. Regardless of your race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin, it is important for everyone to be equal. I am baffled that America had encroached on
the Native Americans land. Even though America would never call it stealing, the relocation of
Native Americans onto smaller and smaller land is stealing. Learning of each groups different
hardships has increased my awareness. It took a lot of effort for each group to be considered
Americans. African Americans shouldnt even be called African Americans because theyve
been born in America and many havent immigrated for hundreds of years. They are Americans
just like any other white citizen.
Have we gotten any better? I feel America has become more accepting and fair to more
groups of people, but we can always improve. There are still examples of prejudices in the
media and those are an example of why America needs to be more equal and fair to everyone.
The idea of white supremacy or any group being better than another is dangerous and causes
contention.
I have taken AP World History, AP US History, and AP Government and Politics. I only
started SLCC this summer and dont have many courses to choose from. I took those courses in
Hight School for college credit. Each one of these courses has helped add to my experience in
this course. World History gave me the perspective of other immigrants and of their situations
and why they would need to leave their country. US History gave me a foundation of the civil
rights movement. Government and Politics gave me a foundation of court cases. Each course
building upon the last. Americanization tied it all
together. Immigrants from other countries became part
of American History and has since changed our nations
policies.
Allowing for immigration is not a cause for a
national disaster. Americans often blame immigrants for
the problems we have in this country. When someone
cant find a job they blame it on immigrants. With
unemployment rates fairly low there is no excuse for
modern Americans. We all are Americans. This nation was started by immigrants. Its seems
hypocritical for America to stop letting immigrants in. As Americans we need to be less entitled
and be more accepting of other immigrants. Equality for all.