Racial-based discrimination is one of the major topics that have been hotly debated in the United States for decades. For instance, from the year 1865 to 1920, race and social classes were the primary factors influencing America’s democracy. Several human rights and workers were established to solve individuals’ discrimination according to their race. Black individuals suffered in the community as they were not considered to be among the citizens. This happened in their workplaces, leading to several strikes as they tried to fight for their rights. At some point, the government tried to solve the issue by setting each individual’s rights without considering race or gender. Consequently, this report will analyze and discuss how race and social class shaped the United States’ given period.
Populism was a unique political approach employed in governance according to several individuals in the country. Many saw that people were being exploited due to poor working conditions, and farmers did not receive what they deserved. As a result, an uprising started in trans-Mississippi West due to the low prices of agricultural products. The economy was falling into a critical condition as the gap between the rich and the poor increased rapidly. The high class did not suffer, although they started feeling the results of the poor economy. In the late 1870s, the Farmers Alliance was established to fight for the lower social classes’ freedom and success (Foner, 2009). The Alliance was independent of the government, but due to a lack of funds to carry out their operations, the government was involved.
There was a wastage of farm products, which propelled the movement to request warehouses to store crops as they awaited selling. This reduced the losses suffered by the lower-class farmers and played a vital role in improving the economy. The 1890s marked a significant evolution of the Alliance to the People’s Party that did not focus on farmers but involved the producing classes (Foner, 2009). Moreover, the Populist movement advocated for modern technology to boost the productivity of small-scale farmers. The Populist platform in 1892 brought a significant reform, with the primary goal being eradicating political corruption.
Another notable period was The Gilded Age, which fought for the removal of the scramble for wealth. The politics oppressed the lower classes as they grabbed wealth, leaving the poor classes struggling. This reform is one of the primary actions that shaped the United States’ political and economic structure. As a result, the economy shifted to an industrial economy with the citizens fighting for their current social order position.
The Gilded Age triggered Congress to investigate employees’ working conditions that were not favorable (Foner, 2009). Hence, the low classes seemed to rely on the government for the improvement of working conditions. Despite this, the government did not lift the bottom classes leading to Social Darwinism. This approach stated that social revolution is natural and does not depend on the government. Hence, the idea was employed by individuals to improve social classes and professions.
Black farmers suffered racial discrimination, and this primarily affected individuals in the South. As can be read in Monton’s (1928) article, “The South is beginning seriously to consider the causes of negro migration, and editors concede that the offer of high wages in the North is not the only cause” (para. 10). Moreover, there was unemployment among the black in the region. Despite this, those in the Upper South region received some advantages due to the area’s economic growth. Although their working conditions were not standard to those of the whites, they could meet some of their social needs. Before the Reconstruction, black farmers owned several land tracks, and their land was reduced after Reconstruction as it was taken away by the whites.
Additionally, the African-Americans worked in the industries as slaves without any wages, with the women not allowed to work. During this period, schools and other network institutions were created in the southern cities to improve the black’s social standards (Foner, 2009). As a result, the African-Americans were able to receive employment and be paid without any difficulties.
Nevertheless, the people of color were not supposed to work as supervisors or other higher employment levels in any industry. Most jobs were found in the northern cities where there were several industries, and these factories did not offer employment to black individuals. In 1880, thousands of people moved to Kansas to fight for equality and freedom with the Kansas Exodus movement. However, in 1877, the black discrimination declined considering political freedom.
Before this period, African-Americans were not allowed to either vote or hold any political office in the region (Foner, 2009). Despite this, the authorities shifted the district boundaries to ensure that black people will not make way to Congress. As the black individual strived for political freedom, the National Association of Colored Women emerged to fight women’s rights and racial uplift. The reason behind this was that the racial ideology that considered blacks as a lower-class citizen.
To conclude, the implications of race affected each individual’s social, political, and economic development in the country. Many activities in the country were influenced by bias in society. For instance, the action between 1865 and 1920 was steered by the racial and class discrimination of the citizens and immigrants. Thus, the various activities in different periods were impacted by issues such as employment, the Gilded Age, and populism. In essence, individuals can learn that diverse aspects involving race determined how people lived and interacted in American society.
References
Foner, E. (2009). Give me liberty. Volume 2, From 1865: An American history. W.W. Norton.
Moton, R. R. (1928) Negro migration causing social revolution in the South. The New York Times. Web.