Question

What instances of social, political, and economic antagonism between cultural ethnic groups arose from westward expansion

Answer 1

Westward expansion resulted in conflict and Antagonism between White settlers and Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Chinese immigrants, driven by discriminatory practices, unequal economic opportunities, and violent displacement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century led to significant social, political, and economic antagonism between cultural ethnic groups. As White American settlers moved into territories traditionally occupied by Native American tribes, Hispanic Americans, and Chinese immigrants, conflicts arose. Hispanic citizens, despite having rights on paper, faced systemic discrimination, especially in land disputes and labor. Similarly, Chinese immigrants, following the Gold Rush, experienced racial prejudice and were often relegated to menial jobs. Within the context of the market-based economy that Anglo settlers were building, both of these groups, along with the Native Americans, found their way of life and cultural identity under threat. The government often supported White settlers' claims over those of other groups, leading to an enclosure of lands and a transformation of local economies that favored Anglo-American interests over those of existing communities.

One poignant piece reflecting the conflict between Hispanic populations and Anglo settlers is Jovita Gonzalez's work, noting the impact of Anglo colonization on Hispanic economic conditions, with dire consequences such as hunger following the introduction of barbed wire fencing. Despite some efforts at peaceful resolutions and diplomacy highlighted by movements such as the LibreTexts, the overwhelming trend was towards aggressive, often violent, dispossession and disenfranchisement of non-White groups. This antagonism, particularly manifest through land and resource competition, set the stage for deeply ingrained structural inequalities that would persist for generations.

Moreover, the arrival of big business in the mining and cattle industries ended many individual opportunities, transforming small towns into cities aligned with middle-class White American values. These developments widened the gap between White, middle-class Americans and those living in the 'other America,' comprised of various ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged groups. As settlements expanded, the existing 'Indian problem' escalated into violence and warfare, resulting in the displacement of tribes onto reservations and sparking political debate on Native American policy.

Answer 2

Answer: There were several instances of social, political, and economic antagonism between cultural and ethnic groups that arose from the Westward Expansion.

During this event, many of the settlers kept moving Indians out of their own lands.

The settlers believed that they had exclusive rights to the lands, not the Indians.

Indians relied on killing the buffalo for the meat and skins, but the settlers decided that they were the ones who could kill the buffalo and they did. This left the Indians hungry.

The Indians had a belief that the land belonged to everyone, however, the white men did not hold that belief.

Indians were not around diseases before the settlers came, and then began to catch diseases and became sick.

Lastly, the white men and women believed they were inferior to the Indians.