race relations in the USA 1870-1930

Relationships between the growing numbers of diverse racial groups after the end of the Civil War, during a period of expansion for the USA. These relationships were primarily characterized by white dominance over non-white groups, especially American Indians, blacks, Mexicans, and Asians, and the marginalization of these groups from white society.

American Indians White settlers travelling west came into increasing conflict with American Indians during the 19th century. Settlers and soldiers destroyed their buffalo herds, sparking off the Indian Wars, which lasted until 1886. The US government's relocation policies eventually forced all American Indians to live on reservations (see American Indian removal and resettlement). The Dawes General Allotment Act, in effect 1887-1934, was designed to assimilate the American Indians, but resulted only in decreased Indian territory and impoverishment.

Blacks After the Civil War, more opportunities were open to blacks, especially in the North, though only 10% of the US black population lived there. Jim Crow laws, however, disenfranchised blacks in every southern state. Blacks were therefore powerless to prevent the segregation laws and codes that permeated every part of their lives. The 1896 US Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson provided constitutional protection for segregation for the next 50 years. Blacks were also segregated because of social and economic conditions.

Mexicans Around 150,000 Mexicans lived in the territory annexed by the USA at the end of the Mexican War in 1848. More than 700,000 legal immigrants from rural areas entered the USA 1900-30. Perceived and treated as inferior, Mexicans were often landless, holding the most menial jobs.

Asians Asians during this period experienced hostility from both white workers and legislatures on the West Coast. Chinese immigration rose sharply during the second half of the 19th century. Immigrants, however, enjoyed few civil rights and were often subject to acts of violence. An economic depression during the 1870s made US citizens increasingly hostile to Chinese immigrants, resulting in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, suspending Chinese immigration. Japanese immigrants were also excluded from many white institutions and were forbidden to own land.