Race Relations: Closed American Society In 1800S (Research Paper Sample)

Race Relations
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Race Relations
Closed American Society in 1800s
During the 1800s, the race relations in the US suggests that the American society was closed. For instance, in the 1890s racism was intense to an extent that the process can be described as horrifying and intense racial violence. The oppression of the African American race sustained the political racism in America.
The enactment of the legislation in 1865, after the American Civil War, enabled the African American race transportation across the state. Besides, the state enacted a legislation that declared illegal discrimination based on skin tone. The legislation also reinforced the rights of the African American race to vote. Even so, the African American race remained subject to bigotry, hostility, and persecution, even though the enactment of the anti-racial legislations aimed at addressing the racial segregation.
The majority of the Whites perceived that the blacks were inferior in social, political, and economic perspectives. The closeness of the American society can further be demonstrated by how African America race was regarded as second-class citizen. Many white Americans preferred not to integrate with them. Further, they overlooked the question of equal rights (BBC, 2014).
Secondly, the culture of slavery dominated in the 1800s, particularly in the North and West of the US. A big number of African American race lived in the Southern states after the Civil War where the white supremacy dominated. The white supremacy held that all other races, especially black, were inferior. Therefore, the white race perceived that they should dominate the society.
In addition, the closeness of the American society was contributed by legalization of racism in some states such as Alabama. Such laws enforced segregation of the African American race, which reinforces the inferiority category of the black citizens. To mention, the African America society had limited opportunity to move up in terms of education. The law that upheld that black American should study in different schools attributed this. Moreover, segregation was practiced in public transport, workplaces, marriage, and public places such as cinemas, shops, and theatres (BBC, 2014).
Way towards Freedom and Democracy
There were notable attempts by the America society to adopt the idea of regaining freedom from the dominating white race. For instance, between 1829 and 1834, America experienced grievous race riots in which African- American that owned churches, schools, and businesses were looted. Some African Americans who were in the streets were beaten. In pursuit of their rights, some of them filed their grievances with the courts for hearing. However, the courts dismissing their pleas (Knight, 2003). The abolitionist organizations and African America civil right movements pleaded and petitioned in attempt to disapprove the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1838 that would limit the voting right of white freemen. These petitions aimed at legitimizing African Americans to take part in voting (Otter, 2010).
In 1982, Denmark Vesey, a leader of of the black, organized a major revolt in Charleston to end slavery. His contribution to attaining freedom is noted in 1818 where he took part in establishing the AME church in Charleston (Rodriguez, 2007). Maria Stewart made an attempt in 1832 to increase democracy by launching a public career as a pamphleteer and speaker. She was among the first African American political activist that established freedom struggle and political activism among the black women. She encouraged black women to acquire equality by becoming pioneers in careers such as education innovators, school founders, and teachers (Independence Hall Association, 2015).
In 1837, there were a number of attempts to free African American slaves. Abolitionist, Robert Purvis, established the Vigilance Committee to assist fugitive slaves. His mission enabled one slave per day to acquire freedom. Further, the year saw the establishment of the Antislavery Convention of American Women. The gathering composed of interracial followers whose mission was to unite female antislavery groups to promote an anti-slavery agenda (Independence Hall Association, 2015). In the same year, the Institute for Colored Youth was established to promote the right of African American society to attain education (King, 2006).
Further attempt of attaining democracy was portrayed in 1867 in which black voters took part in elections held in the District of Columbia. The state granted the blacks the franchise that resulted in the rise of new political leaders from the black society. Moreover, the ratification of the Fourteenth amendment in 1868 made black race recognized citizens. The white voters based in Iowa, passe...