Examples Of Discrimination In California During The Gold Rush

During California’s Gold Rush of 1849, people traveled from across the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, in hopes of getting in on the action. At the time, essentially only white men were allowed to mine – no women, immigrants, or even Native Americans. In turn, this injustice practice caused discrimination and although this was not the beginning of discrimination against races or sexes, it further prolonged it. Women during the Gold Rush weren’t seen much in the scene because in this time period, women were still viewed as housewives more than anything else. But, during the Gold Rush, women were also seen giving sexual pleasures to the men that outnumbered them in the beginning. It was devastating that immigrants

A year prior to that, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, making parts of Mexico Unites States land. Anyone who was in California during the signing of the treaty was automatically a U.S. citizen. During 1942-1962, the Bracero program allowed Mexican nationals to work in the United States for 6 months in planting crops. The program was very effective but eventually ended because unions said Mexicans were taking jobs from Americans. Mexicans found this unjust and began the march of immigration Braceros were still going to come back and simply send money to their families. Laws enacted in 1996 cut back on the already limited rights that immigrant’s receive. Latinos, along with Asians, still suffer from automatic deportation even though paid their debt to society for minor offenses, limits on health and nutritional services for legal immigrant children and basic notions such as fairness.

Before 1960, the marginalization of lesbian and gays was not an issue but starting in the 1970s, young white gay men migrated to San Francisco. In 1977, Harvey Mil became the first openly gay man elected into office in California. But still in 1990, there were no openly gay or lesbian in legislature. In 2004, Mayor Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples only to have the Supreme Court invalidate the certificates of 400 gays that traveled to California for them. Gays and lesbians have suffered discrimination in their employment and even housing, making civil rights protection even more significant. Nationwide, 14% of all hate crimes are committed against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and/or transgender.5 States have put in place laws to prevent job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but in California, propositions were initially passed for the state not to recognize same-sex marriages and banning same-sex marriages. We as a state have obviously come along way in regards to the issue because as of now, same-sex marriage is legal in the