The Stratification of American SocietyThe Stratification of American Society

What is stratification?What is stratification?

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What is race?What is race?What is race?What is race?

The idea that humans are divided into biologically-distinct “races” identifiable by

Physical characteristics?Innate behaviors?

NO!!!! This is being challenged by historians & anthropologists

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Prior to late 1700s, race was defined as•physical differences & behaviors associated with particular groups were believed to come from

oDistinctive climatesoFoodsoCultural practices

•All associated with their geographic origins•While physical & behavior characteristics were understood to be inherited in part, it was also believed that overlong periods of time in new environments, these characteristics could change

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By late 1700s•Idea was that “races” have distinct, innate and unchanging differences•Concept of “race” emerged

oin part out of the new scientific beliefs that all natural phenomena could be organized into fixed categoriesoIn part because the Ango-Europeans desired to distinguish themselves as citizens (land-owning) from the growing numbers of free people of color in the new American nation

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What is race?What is race?What is race?What is race?

Today, race is•The meanings that have been given to physical and cultural differences at particular historical moments There is 1 race……•the Human Race; the rest is classifications we use to group ourselves and others •The concept of distinct & unchanging “races” did not become common in the US until the late 18th Century (late 1700s)

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Social StratificationSocial StratificationSocial StratificationSocial Stratification

What is social stratification?

•To stratify, or group people in a hierarchical format

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Social StratificationSocial StratificationSocial StratificationSocial StratificationUltimately, race is a way in which one group designates itself as superior and other groups as inferior Although success in America is believed to be based on a meritocratic system• Meaning if you work hard, you succeed, a system where equality of opportunity exists,

the truth is, inequalities in the distribution of income, wealth, power and prestige reflect not one’s qualification of merit but one’s racial classification.

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The crucial issue is not the equal treatment of those with equal qualifications per se, but rather, the access of minority group members to the qualifications themselves.

Stratification, for our purposes, means grouping people and only certain groups having access to the resources they need

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CultureCulture The customary beliefs, manners, The customary beliefs, manners,

art, music, food, language and the art, music, food, language and the items commonly used by a items commonly used by a particular group can all contribute particular group can all contribute to defining a culture.to defining a culture.

CultureCultureCultureCulture

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EthnicityEthnicityEthnicityEthnicity

Identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group's customs, beliefs, and language.

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How does America group its citizens?How does America group its citizens?How does America group its citizens?How does America group its citizens?

2. What is the person's race? White Black or African American American Indian or Alaska Native (write in tribe) Asian Indian Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese Native Hawaiian Guamanian or Chamorro Samoans Other Pacific Islander (write in race) Other race (write in race)

This census acknowledged that

"race categories include both racial and

national-origin groups."

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Slavery……just in the South?Slavery……just in the South?Slavery……just in the South?Slavery……just in the South?

Today, we often think of slavery as a Southern institution

Long thought of as the birthplace of the anti-slavery movement

New England has a more complex history of slavery and slave trading than many realize

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A few minor details..A few minor details..A few minor details..A few minor details..

The transatlantic slave trade was history’s first great global industry Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, Holland

& Denmark all traveled to the African coast to load their ships with slaves

The risks were great Storms, pirates, disease & rebellions But profits were great as well Must of the wealth of modern nations flows,

either directly or indirectly, from the trade in human cargo: slaves

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Triangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular Trade

Colonial North American ships began participating in the slave trade as early as the 1640s Slave ships originated in New England Landscape was unsuitable for farming

Mercantilism (English economic policy) barred colonists from trading with other countries

Navigation Acts required colonists to trade only with other British colonies or Britain itself

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Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.

Since most household goods had to be bought from England, colonists always in debt to England New Englanders looked to sea for their

livelihood

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Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.

Upon arrival in the new world, labor shortages existed everywhere Looked to Native Americans as first

source of slaves High mortality from war & disease

Moved on to Africans Built the flourishing Caribbean sugar industry

By the 18th century, world demand for sugar was so great, and potential profits so immense

Planters considered it economical to work slaves to death and then import more

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Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.Triangular Trade, cont.

Caribbean planters Quit producing food & necessities

Making too much $$ on sugar

Had to import it Slave trade brought great wealth

Sailors Rope making, iron forging, candle

manufacturing & carpentry all slave dependent

Distilling rum

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Triangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular Trade Developed Triangular Trade, cont.

Sugar & Molasses carried from Caribbean plantation colonies TO

New England where colonists distilled it into rum, then shipped it TO

Africa where it was exchanged for slaves WHO Were carried back to the Caribbean to produce more

sugar

Some Africans were brought back to New England By 1755, more than 13,000 slaves were working

in NE Especially important to people in Rhode Island 2/3rds of their shipping fleet was engaged in the

slave trade

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Triangular Trade

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Triangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular TradeTriangular Trade

Slave trading worked like the stock market Slaves sold in the Caribbean for 8 to

10 times the amount paid in Africa New Englanders invested in the trade

Average working people could buy shares for very little money and thus try to build up their wealth

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Destination for slaves on RI ships, 1700-Destination for slaves on RI ships, 1700-17871787

Destination for slaves on RI ships, 1700-Destination for slaves on RI ships, 1700-17871787

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New Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave Trade

Most English colonists viewed slave trading as a respectable business MA & RI Governors MA Judges Pres of Yale Prominent clergy members

Most whites did NOT regard it as a moral problem

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New Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave TradeNew Englander’s View of Slave Trade

Most New Englander’s believed in a hierarchical society Some people have power & some do not Accepted servitude as normal Expected servants & slaves to be obedient

Religious justification Believed their religion was only valid one &

all who did not accept would perish in damnation

Argued that enslaving Africans was to save their soul

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Why did West African merchants Why did West African merchants participate?participate?

Why did West African merchants Why did West African merchants participate?participate?

Culturally & linguistically diverse Noticeable religious differences

Islam & traditional religions Could be distinguished based upon occupation

Some Africans sold other Africans into slavery No unity Slavery existed in Africa before Europeans ever

travelled there Much less harsh, however Typically ransomed back to family

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Why did West African merchants Why did West African merchants participate?participate?

Why did West African merchants Why did West African merchants participate?participate?

Europeans traded guns for slaves African Kings and Chiefs used these

guns to gain/maintain power over other tribes

In 1723, NE introduced Rum

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