Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the 19th Century

Prepare: Read Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of your textbook and explore the Alien Menace article thoroughly, viewing all of the links. You are not required to answer the questions on the website, only to consider them. Choose the group that you plan to focus on during this course and in your Final Project. You must choose from the groups listed below:

• African Americans
• Native Americans
• Women
• Immigrants

Reflect: Reflect on the discrimination based on race, gender, and ethnicity that was common in American society during the last half of the 1800s. Think about how this discrimination was justified. Consider the particular challenges and opportunities that each group confronted during this period and the strategies they used to navigate them. Focus specifically on the group that you chose for your Final Project. How did your group fit into the dynamics of this period? 
Write: Based on the chapters in your textbook and the required exhibit, answer the following:

• Why was the last half of the 1800s a time of conflict over the meanings of citizenship in relation to race, ethnicity, and gender?
• Explain the challenges faced by your chosen group.
• How did your chosen group work to secure their places in the social and political hierarchy?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Be sure to mention your chosen group in the subject line of your post. Provide specific examples to support your points. Your references and citations must be formatted according to APA style as outlined by the Ashford Writing Center.