Transcript Representation of Ethnic Minorities in the USA

Representation and Participation of
Ethnic Minorities
Today I will learn about Ethnic minority
representation and participation in the USA.
Fact file – Presidents by race/ethnic
group and gender to 2012 (44 in total)
White
43
Hispanic
0
Black
1
Asian
0
Native American
0
Men
Women
44
0
Minorities in Congress Today
(2012)
House of (435)
Representatives
Senate
Total
(100)
Hispanic
27 (6.2%)
3 (3%)
30 (5.6%)
Black
42 (9.7%)
1 (1%)
43 (8%)
Asian
6 (1.4%)
2 (2%)
8 (1.5%)
Native
American
Women
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
75 (17%)
16 (16%) 91 (17%)
Men
360 (83%)
84 (84%) 444 (83%)
REPRESENTATION
In the USA, Blacks and Hispanics have never been properly
represented in Congress in proportion to their numbers in
population. However, the situation has started to improve.
African-Americans in Congress
• Collectively called the
Black Caucus
• Very influential
• Special interests as a
group – look out for
rights of African
Americans
• All Democrats
African-Americans in Congress
• Despite the strength of the Black Caucus, Blacks
are still under-represented in Congress.
• African-Americans are 13% of the population
• House has 42 members - 10% of total
• Senate had 1 member - 1% of total
Hispanic influence
• Hispanics make up 15% of the population
• Hispanics are still under-represented in
Congress with 27 Congressmen (6%) and only
3 Senators (3%).
• Hispanics are participating much more in
politics than in previous years
Take the heading: Political Progress of Ethnic Minorities
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE
USA HAVE MADE POLITICAL
PROGRESS
ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE
USA HAVE NOT MADE MUCH
POLITICAL PROGRESS
Copy and complete the table by putting the following information
into the correct column of the table.
Many ethnic minorities cannot vote because they cannot fill in the
complicated registration forms.
Many Hispanics cannot register because they are illegal immigrants.
The growing African American middle class participate in voting and
show great support for the Democratic party.
Asian Americans believe participation through voting has helped many
of them achieve the American Dream.
Many ethnic minorities now see voting as a waste of time as
participation has not helped them get out of the poverty trap.
More role models- Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Number of
African Americans elected to Congress is on the increase.
Hispanics do not have as many role models in important political
positions as Blacks do – eg. Obama.
As Blacks and Hispanics are under-represented in the richest group
of Americans, they may find it very difficult to get the financial
backing required to run a national election campaign.
Give two reasons why political participation by
ethnic minorities in the USA is lower than for
other groups. (General Level, 4 marks)
Political participation by ________ minorities (blacks and
________ )may be lower because there are fewer
minority ________ models to look up to. There had never,
until 2008, been a black or hispanic, _________and there
are far fewer people from these groups in _______than
there should be, considering how much of the population is
black or hispanic. The situation is really poor in the
________, and not quite so bad in the House of
Representatives.
Secondly, ethnic minorities tend to come from a
_________ background, with less education and lower
wages. It has been shown that there is a _________ link
between wealth and _______ in politics, so it's not
surprising that ethnic minorities are less likely to
participate.
Direct
role
Hispanic
participation
President
Poorer
Ethnic
Congress
Senate
Political Participation
Before you can vote in the USA
you must be registered to vote.
In the 2008 Presidential election
71% of the total population was
registered to vote (only 64%
voted). Black and Hispanic voters
are less likely to register,
although there has been an
increase in recent years. Turnout
is therefore quite low.
Why is voter registration so
low?
1. The registration procedure can be complicated.
2. Some groups feel that voting is a waste of time.
3. In some rural areas it might be difficult to get
to the polling station.
4. Many people are happy with the way the
government is run.
5. Many are illegal immigrants and not qualify to
vote.
Give two reasons why political participation by
ethnic minorities in the USA is lower than for
other groups. (General Level, 4 marks)
As we go through the next few slides,
add information to the spider-diagram
below…
Representation of Ethnic
Minorities in the USA
REPRESENTATION OF ETHNIC
MINORITIES IN THE US GOVERNMENT
Standard Grade Modern Studies
Syllabus Area 3 – Ideologies - USA
PROGRESS - FACTS
• Before Bush, no
non-white person
had been named to
any of the four most
prestigious Cabinet
jobs – at the
Departments of
State, Treasury,
Defence and
Justice.
PROGRESS – FACTS
continued
• Colin Powell
became the first
African-American
Secretary of State
in 2001.
PROGRESS – FACTS
continued
• 26 January 2005, Condoleezza Rice
(Black) became Secretary of State.
• Previously, National Security Advisor.
The Cabinet cont…
• Alberto R. Gonzales – Attorney General,
Department of Justice – 3 Feb 2005.
• First Hispanic to hold one of the powerful
“big four” Cabinet jobs.
PROGRESS – FACTS
continued
• Number of African Americans elected
to Congress is on the increase.
• In 2001, there were 39 Blacks, which
was 7.3% of the total.
• In 2008, there were 43 Blacks, which is
8% of the total.
UNDER-REPRESENTATION FACTS
• There had never been an ethnic minority
President of the USA until Barack Obama
was elected in 2008.
UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF
HISPANICS - EXPLAINED
• Hispanics do not have as many role
models in important political positions
as Blacks do.
• Language and education barriers.
• Racist attitudes.
UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF
BLACKS - EXPLAINED
• Racist
attitudes.
• Poor education.
UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF
BLACKS AND HISPANICS
EXPLAINED
• To do well in American politics, a
candidate needs to have, or be backed
by, a lot of money.
• As Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in the richest group of
Americans, they may find it very
difficult to get the financial backing
required to run a national election
campaign.
Representation in the US
Government
What you will learn…
• About statistics to do with the 2008
Presidential election
• About minorities involvement in the
US Government
Fact file – Presidents by race/
ethnic group and gender to 2008
White
43
Hispanic
0
Black
1
Asian
0
Native American
0
Men
Women
44
0
Minorities in Congress Today
House of (435)
Representatives
Senate
Total
(100)
Hispanic
27 (6.2%)
3 (3%)
30 (5.6%)
Black
42 (9.7%)
1 (1%)
43 (8%)
Asian
6 (1.4%)
2 (2%)
8 (1.5%)
Native
American
Women
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
75 (17%)
16 (16%) 91 (17%)
Men
360 (83%)
84 (84%) 444 (83%)
Facts - 2008
• There were no black members of the
Republican Party in the House of
Representatives or the Senate
• Women made up over 50% of the
population but only accounted for 16%
of the Senate and 17% of the HoR
• 24 Hispanics in the House were
Democrat and 3 Republican
Facts – 2008 cont…
• 2 Hispanics in the Senate were
Democrat and 1 was Republican
• All the Asian and Pacific Islanders in
Congress were Democrats
Amounts raised and spent in the 2008
presidential election by the 2 main
candidates
Raised
(Millions)
Spent
(Millions)
Barack Obama
Democrat
$532.9 million $513.5 million
Party
John McCain
Republican
$379.0 million $346.6 million
Party
USA Presidential Election 2008
• The 2008 election in the USA
encouraged more Americans to
participate in an election than at any
time in nearly 50 years
• Barack Obama is a very charismatic
man whose speeches created a very
positive mood in many Americans
USA Presidential Election 2008
USA Presidential Election 2008
Who voted for Obama?
• Overwhelmingly won the Black vote
• Won 66% of the Hispanic vote
• 66% of those aged under 30 voted
Obama
• 60% of the votes came from people
earning less than $50,000 compared
to 49% of those earning $50,000 or
more
Who voted for Obama?
• Obama’s biggest success was winning
43% of the White vote
• In particular, 46% of White women
voted Obama
• 62% of voters said that the biggest
issue in the election was the economy,
with the war in Iraq coming second at
10%