California Race And Class

The United States of America is known as a safe haven for immigrants searching for a better life. Immigrants are eager to start their new life in America where it is said that everyone has equal freedom and opportunities regardless of their race, religion, or any other factors. While that is mostly true, recent events like police brutality toward African Americans questions whether all races and classes in the United States have the same rights. Race and class are often two things used by self-proclaimed superior races to harm another. California, one of the most populated states, has a distinct history regarding race. Race and class which are crucial to the history of California can be divided into Spanish California, Mexican California and …show more content…
The Europeans had noticed the Native Americans’ difference in clothing, language and lifestyle and had quickly made the judgment that they were not living the correct way, which is the Christian way. The Native Americans preferred their own lifestyle, but they were often coerced into being baptized. Feeling threatened by the abusive soldiers, Native Americans did often try to get the missionaries to leave using violence, but this only lead to more conflict. Socially, the Native Americans were not treated with respect that they deserve as people. They were often viewed as children and if they are found trying to escape the missions they were severely punished. Indian women were often raped by the Spanish soldiers; however, the soldiers were not punished neither was anything done to protect the women in missions. Native Americans were not viewed as deserving equal status as Spanish; this is shown through the Spaniards’ inhumane treatment of Native Americans in missions. Economically, the mission Indians were not paid for the labor[that] build the great churches and grew the crops that helped more Indians to be converted” (Junipero Serra and the California …show more content…
Social, political and economic rights varied in Mexicans because of class structure. The ranchero elite was considered the highest class. The ranchero elite of California were wealthy Mexican men who owned large grants of land. Mexican elite were respected by European Americans because of their Spanish history. Intermarriage, which rarely occurred between European Americans and other minorities, was common between the daughters of the ranchero elite and wealthy European Americans. Although the wealthy ranch owners were respected, they were not considered equal to white Americans. The ranchero elite were considered half-civilized because “Mexican cattle-raising did not require the direct cultivation of the territory’s fertile land” (Starr 51). European Americans classified all Mexicans as a lazy race because of the ranchero elite’s lavish lifestyle and their lack of interest in agriculture. In terms of politics in Spanish California, the ranchero elite “enjoyed a high degree of autonomy” (Starr 47). The few ranchers who owned the vast majority of land controlled the politics and economics of the area. The wealthy white Americans who settled in California also enjoyed high social status for having European lineage. They were also able to secure high status and wealth by marrying women from the ranchero families. The European Americans believed that the presence of the Mexicans hindered the expansion of