What were the race relations in the northern US in the 1800s?

Answer 1

Race relations in the Northern US states during the 19th century were not good, and the fact that race relations throughout the world in that time period does not justify the situation in the US. Race relations over a one hundred year period of time, of course, changed radically as more progressive thinking evolved.

With that said, Northern whites held prejudicial beliefs against three major minority groups. These were: African Americans, Chinese immigrants and Native Americans.

Here are some important generalizations:

1. Northern whites may have despised slavery, however, they did not believe that slaves, freed Blacks, Black Union soldiers or any combination of these people were equal to white people. Even many abolitionists believed this despite the fact they hated slavery. That this is true can be demonstrated by reviewing US history in the modern day US Civil Rights era and beyond.

2. Chinese immigrant workers, especially ones working for railroads were treated harshly in the 19th century. They were seen as less than equal to whites and this justified to whites their harsh behavior. Generally speaking, this attitude does not exist today.

3. Native Americans were not slaves, however, it is not far from reality to say that Native Americans in the 19th century were subject to unorganized genocide.

The answer to this question is not fair unless it is pointed out that from the earliest times in the colonization of the Western Hemisphere, minorities were treated badly by all the European powers that had colonies in the New World. And equally true, this answer must be viewed in the context of the worlds of yesterday and the world of today.

For the most part, and this is a reflection of human nature, in any part of the world, majority races seldom see the minority peoples under their control as equals. This transcends race and follows the discriminatory lines of ethnicity and religion.