American Government Chapter 21 Section 1

Diversity and Discrimination American population has been predominantly Caucasian Since 1960, immigrant groups and ethnic minorities have consistently increased in population Females have been more numerous than males for more than 50 years

Ethnic Minority Groups African Americans Native Americans Hispanic Americans

African Americans Largest ethnic minority group More than 12% of nation’s population Over 30 million people Enslaved legally for more than 200 years Most of the civil rights that affect all Americans were initiated in large part by African American groups

Native Americans Almost one million in 1650’s – pre-invasion Only 250,000 in 1900 Killed largely by disease Murdered en masse by military Killed in large numbers in warfare Eventually conquered and forced to live on reservations Non-citizens until 1924

Asian Americans Chinese labor imported to build railroad Chinese Exclusion Act – 1882 Internment camps of WW II Periodic waves of immigrants as a result of conflicts

Hispanic Americans Mexicans – over half of the group, Chicanos are American born of Mexican parents Puerto Ricans – American nationals on the island, citizens if born in America Cubans – See Florida Central and South Americans – Mostly political refugees

Women More than 50% of nation’s population Less than 15% of elected offices Less than 20% of doctors, lawyers, college professors Glass ceiling Civil Rights Act of 1964 80% of male salary for comparable job