Compare and contrast the political and social rights of the group that you have previously selected to examine with those of another disadvantaged group, as of 1924. As a reminder the groups that are examined in this class are:
African Americans
Native Americans
Women
Immigrants
For example, if the group you are examining throughout the course is African Americans, you would compare and contrast their experiences regarding social and political rights with that of a different one of these groups, that is women, immigrants, or Native Americans.
Guide On Rating System
Vote
As of 1924, African Americans and Native Americans both faced significant disadvantages in terms of political and social rights, while women and immigrants experienced different challenges.
1. African Americans:
- Political Rights: African Americans faced severe voting restrictions such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses. These measures were implemented to suppress their political power and prevent them from exercising their right to vote.
- Social Rights: African Americans experienced widespread racial discrimination and segregation. They were subjected to Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation in public facilities, education, transportation, and housing. This led to limited opportunities for education, employment, and social mobility.
2. Native Americans:
- Political Rights: Native Americans were not regarded as citizens of the United States until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Before that, they were excluded from participating in most political activities and did not have voting rights.
- Social Rights: Native Americans faced cultural assimilation policies such as the Dawes Act of 1887, which aimed to break up tribal landholdings and force Native Americans to adopt European farming practices. This led to the loss of their traditional lands, culture, and self-governance.
3. Women:
- Political Rights: Women in the United States gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. However, the suffrage movement faced decades of opposition, and women still faced significant barriers to participating in politics.
- Social Rights: Women faced gender-based discrimination and societal expectations that limited their opportunities in education, employment, and public life. They were often excluded from higher education and professional careers, and traditional gender roles confined them to domestic and caregiving duties.
4. Immigrants:
- Political Rights: Immigrants faced various restrictions on political participation with naturalization laws favoring certain groups. The Immigration Act of 1924 introduced quotas based on national origins, limiting immigration from non-Western European countries.
- Social Rights: Immigrants faced discrimination and hostility from nativist groups, and their access to upward social mobility was often limited. Many immigrants struggled to find employment, faced unequal pay, and endured substandard living conditions in ethnic enclaves.
In conclusion, African Americans and Native Americans faced similar challenges in terms of political and social rights, with widespread discrimination, limited political representation, and restricted access to resources. Women and immigrants also faced their own distinct forms of discrimination and barriers to rights, with women fighting for suffrage and equal societal opportunities, while immigrants faced limitations on political participation and societal discrimination based on their national origins.