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Racism and Race Relations. Racist theory In the 18 th , 19 th , and early 20 th century, it was theorized that races were, essentially, genetically distinct subspecies Further, it was held that some races were, by nature, inferior to others
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Racist theory • In the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, it was theorized that races were, essentially, genetically distinct subspecies • Further, it was held that some races were, by nature, inferior to others • White people, particularly those who traced their descent from Northern Europe, were held to be the most intelligent and civilized • This theory was used as an excuse to oppress minority groups in the US This was not a fringe theory, but the generally accepted idea among academic and political leaders. Example: "negroid peoples, the so-called "hamitic," and bastard semitic, races of eastern middle Africa were ‘not fit’ to compete with whites and it would take ‘many thousands years” before the Black became even “as intellectual as the [ancient] Athenian.” – President Theodore Roosevelt
Race Relations • In the South • African Americans were viewed as inferior and uncivilized • African Americans were particularly viewed as a threat to the “sanctity” of white women • Segregation and racist laws sought to keep African Americans separate and prevent them from taking part in politics • Lynching and groups like the Ku Klux Klan targeted any African Americans seen to be threatening the system • Lynching: a mob execution without any legal justification • In the West • Mexican and Chinese workers were commonly used on large construction projects • Ex.: railroads • Both groups were regularly denied political rights, were paid less than white workers, and suffered under segregation similar to African Americans in the South
Read the primary source “Lynching and the Excuse for It” • You are trying to find an answer to this question: What was the cause of lynching? • Step 1: Read the primary source and highlight or underline anything that might help you answer the guiding question
Read the primary source “Lynching and the Excuse for It” • You are trying to find an answer to this question: What was the cause of lynching? • Step 1: Read the primary source and highlight or underline anything that might help you answer the guiding question • Step 2: Write a 30-40 word summary of what the source says about the question
