Term Paper on "Race: British America, Early U.S., French Saint Domingue, & Haiti"

Term Paper 5 pages (1431 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Race

Social and Political Contexts of Race: British North American, Early U.S., French St. Dominique and Haiti.

Race and racism had multiple affects on society and politics in early history. Race and racism functioned primarily as a mechanism for turbulent social and political relationships and served to segregate members of society even when members shared a common cultural and ethnic background to some extend. Race functioned in early history as a mechanism through which people categorically defined who was deserving and undeserving of certain rights, richness and a certain level or comfort in living. People defined superiority and achievement primarily based on race even in early Americas.

This paper discusses the impacts of race and racism on society and politics within multiple colonies including in British North America, the early Americas, in French Saint Domingue and Haiti. Specifically the paper will analyze and confirm how race stimulated and maintained a turbulent and disjointed political and social environment during early history, and how race was used to define various groups worth, rights and abilities in early history.

Analysis of Race Relations Early History

In the early United States those of European descent were primarily considered white or Caucasian, and anyone of there contrasting color whether black, brown, red or yellow were widely referred to as members of other races (Wikipedia, 2005). During the time of colonization black generally came to refer to those of African ancestry and brown was often delegated to Hispanics; red clearly referred to native Americans while yellow referred primarily to those of Asian descent (Wikipedia, 2005). Race played an important role from a social and political context in early U.S. history, where members of the Caucasian race or primarily of European descent were afforded more luxuries, benefits and acceptance than those of other races. Those not clearly of Caucasian descent even if lighter skinned were often relegated to a certain racial heritage even if mixed.

Race was less of a social and political issue in British North America, where race wars were not clearly as prolonged as they were in the America's (Ostrata, 1999). Within British North America most indigenous peoples were pushed out by caucasion immigrants but in a more peaceful manner. The first official race war in Canada occurred as a result of changing demographics, when the French placed war on the territory and established an increasing presence after defeating the native Iroquois (Ostrata, 1999). Thereafter a rapid influx of caucasion immigration ensued and continued for some time under French government control. Race had less of an impact on British Canada's struggle for independence than the struggle for independence in America. In fact many loyalists fled to British America during the revolutionary war, and many natives joined the white population in siding with the British government in Canada (Ostrata, 1999).

After the Civil War free blacks and other indigenous populations found sympathy among British North Americans compared with individuals living in early America (Ostrata, 1999). Most exploitation and coercion of members of society based on race was mostly a problem exiting in the early Americas; it is a problem unique to the Americas, as most slaves were considered members of a lower order of society (Night, 2005). That is part of the reason politically British North American colonies separated themselves from the early Americans, in part because they disagreed with the premises of slavery and unequal race relations (Knight, 2005).

Within Haiti a new model of race relations began, whereby all individuals were generally defined as black; within Haiti all citizens regardless of their color, race or other status were considered equal socially and from a political point (Night, 2005). Economically Haitians were able to transform their culture into one dominated by agriculture into one dominated by "self sufficient producers" moving toward an independent political and economic system that was self-reliant rather than dependent on others (Knight, 2005).

The population of French Saint Domingue however much more resembled the colonies of America, with large slave plantations and exploitation of members of certain races (Knight, 2005). A small population of white colonists dominated the social and political sphere in this region for some time, subordinating even the free persons residing in the French colonies by basically assigning them to roles considered servile and depressed in nature (Knight, 2005). Within the French… READ MORE

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