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PLIGHT OF MINORITIES

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Historical Plight of Minorities
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PLIGHT OF MINORITIES

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Historical Plight of Minorities

The United States is mired in constant conversations bordering on the majority/minority
and discrimination constructs. In the 20th century, American society witnessed a transformation
from the dominant white population deeply rooted in western culture to one that comprises an
array of different ethnic minorities. The shift in the demographics can trace its roots back in
history. Primarily, immigration was the start of American transformation. The colonists came to
the American soil and would later stake claim from the British. In the period from America's
independence to 1877, there were several notable historical events that shaped the diverse
society. The minority groups would raise their claims during that historical period to later impact
the present society. Minority groups discussed include women, natives, and African American.
They have now become more diverse in terms of socioeconomics. Their numbers doubled in the
high-income brackets. Conversely, minorities still are still experiencing some challenges
presently. Historical analysis from the period of American independence up to 1877 illustrates
how minorities in American society got affected by the political and social movements in history
as well as their plight.
Several groups staked a claim and wanted to get recognized as a citizen with equal rights
in the U.S history. Even though these groups’ efforts were vital in history, the most significant
minority group’s struggle was the African American’s. the group’s once inferior status even got
written in the Constitution’s text. African -American’s fight for freedom and equality was the
basis of the other minority group’s legal and moral source for also expressing their rights and
seeking recognition later. The African American plight for equality and recognition was evident
as early as the 1850s. Thomas Jefferson statement, “all men are created equal…endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of

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Happiness” were contradictory to what was really taking place (Cook, 2013). Wealthy
landowners had slaves during that time including Thomas Jefferson. However, he decided not to
address the matter of possession of human beings since the political support for abolition was
still minority during that time. The northern abolitionists had a different stance. They regarded
slavery as immoral and contrast to the young country's values. The famous case depicting the
early African- plight was in the Supreme court. The case that highlighted the plight of the
African Americans during the hearing in Dred Scott v Sandford in 1857 (Cook, 2013). the
Court’s agreement was that Scott wasn’t a citizen and had no legal right in suing for his freedom.
It also prevented the federal government in passing laws that undermine slavery. The Civil War
would later settle the matter in the Civil War between 1861 to 1865. President Lincoln would
later change his policies after first willing to let slavery continue. The change was in the
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which advocated for slaves' freedom. Slaves who were in
the states that were part of the Union and Confederacy parts were however not set free. Rebellion
states' slaves got freed but are a challenge in making sure freed slaves were free in reality.
During the Reconstruction era between 1865 to 1877, African Americans also faced
challenges that impacted them due to the political factors. This period came after the Civil War,
and the south entered this period when state governments got organized before they were to get
readmitted to the Union. Republican party pushed for an end to slavery as part of the process.
Thus, to that effect, a constitutional amendment got passed in 1865. This was done by the House
of Representat...