Race and Ethnicity Native Americans Hispanics Asians Native

Race and Ethnicity Native Americans Hispanics Asians

Native Americans--history • Conquest and removal 1492 -1879 - 1838 Trail of tears - 1860 s creation of the reservation system

History, contd • Assimilation 1880 s-1930 s - Tribes “de-recognized” - Residential boarding schools

Native Americans today-political conditions - Since 1920 s are U. S. citizens, pay federal taxes - since 70’s tribes have greater autonomy: have their own govts, laws and police - but must obey US court interpretations of treaties and laws which apply to them

Native Americans Today--social conditions • Today about 1 percent--depending • less than 50% living on reservations • highest rates of alcoholism, unemployment, low life expectancies, infant mortality • Casino boom beginning in 80 s - Federal law gives tribes right to offer gambling, negotiated with the state - mostly benefiting a few small tribes near urban areas

Hispanics • Largest American “minority” at over 12% • politically under-represented - some not citizens, young population, lower voting rates - but growing in political strength · “socially conservative, economically liberal” - a big prize for the two major parties • Predominantly Democrat, but not Cubans and Central Americans in Miami, Mexicans in Texas, etc.

Asians/Pacific Islanders • 4% nationally, but fastest growing ethnic “group” • Economically various: Indian-Americans on average wealthier than Caucasians, Laotians, Hmong, Khmer poorer. • Politically: - Like Hispanics, under-represented, but voter rates growing - Asians in CA mostly Dem, but often more conservative than other minorities/neighboring whites - differences between nationalities/ethnicities

Mixed race • 2000 Census the first to allow choosing multiple racial categories • by 3 rd generation, most Asians and Latinos marry outside ethnicity

Whites become a minority