Timeline of Classism in the United States
The Founding of the United States
Over half of English immigrants came to the colonies as indentured servants, working 5 to 10 years for those who paid their passage. In the harsh conditions of 17th-century Virginia, two-thirds of indentured servants died before the end of their contracts from deprivation or disease.
The rebellion against Britain was primarily waged and supported by the wealthiest white men in the colonies, who also had to contend with rebellions against their economic and political control by Indians whose land they were invading, by black slaves, and by poor white renters, foot soldiers, and taxpayers (for example, the Whiskey Rebellion).
Only white male property-owners were given the vote; in some states, only white male property-owners could serve on juries and only large property owners could run for office. Later, in the 1840s, Dorr’s Rebellion tried to institute voting rights for white landless men in Rhode Island but was repressed by the state militia (Allen, 1994; Zinn, 1995).
The rebellion against Britain was primarily waged and supported by the wealthiest white men in the colonies, who also had to contend with rebellions against their economic and political control by Indians whose land they were invading, by black slaves, and by poor white renters, foot soldiers, and taxpayers (for example, the Whiskey Rebellion).
Only white male property-owners were given the vote; in some states, only white male property-owners could serve on juries and only large property owners could run for office. Later, in the 1840s, Dorr’s Rebellion tried to institute voting rights for white landless men in Rhode Island but was repressed by the state militia (Allen, 1994; Zinn, 1995).
Four Main Forms of Wealth Creation Put Surplus
in the Hands of a Small Wealthy Elite
Post-World War II Boom Economy of 1950s and 1960s
The United States came out of World War II the only intact industrial economy in the world. Tremendous economic growth from exports to the rest of the world created a large middle class and stable working class. Skilled and/or unionized working-class people began to own homes and have pensions; the children and grandchildren of poor immigrants and African Americans went to college in large numbers and populated the new sprawling middle-class suburbs (Bluestone & Harrison, 1984).
Anti-Communist McCarthyism repressed union organizers and others who spoke up against classism (Bluestone & Harrison, 1984).
The unmet expectations created by high Black participation in World War II and by economic growth helped spur the black Civil Rights Movement, which inspired other poor people’s movements such as the United Farmworkers, the American Indian Movement, and the National Welfare Rights Organization, among others (Bluestone & Harrison, 1984).
Anti-Communist McCarthyism repressed union organizers and others who spoke up against classism (Bluestone & Harrison, 1984).
The unmet expectations created by high Black participation in World War II and by economic growth helped spur the black Civil Rights Movement, which inspired other poor people’s movements such as the United Farmworkers, the American Indian Movement, and the National Welfare Rights Organization, among others (Bluestone & Harrison, 1984).
De-industrialization and Pillage by the Rich from the 1980s to the Present
References
Abramovitz, M. (2000). Under attack, fighting back: Women and welfare in the United States. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Albelda, R., & Withorn, A. (Eds.). (2002). Lost ground: Welfare reform, poverty, and beyond. Boston: South End Press.
Allen, T. W. (1994). The invention of the white race: Racial oppression and social control. Verso Books.
Amott, T. (1993). Caught in the crisis: Women and the U.S. economy today. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Amott, T. & Matthaei, J. (1991). Race gender and work: A multicultural economic history of the women in the United States. Boston, MA: South
End Press.
Bluestone, B., & Harrison, B. (1984). The deindustrialization of America: Plant closings, community abandonment, and the dismantling of basic
industry. New York: Basic Books.
Collins, C., & Yeskel, F. (2005). Economic apartheid in America (2nd ed.). New York: The New Press.
Harding, V. (1983). There is a river: The black struggle for freedom in America. New York: Random House.
Katznelson, I. (2005). When affirmative action was white: An untold history of racial inequality in twentieth-century America. New York:
W.W. Norton.
Leondar-Wright, B. (2005). History of classism. Arizona University.
Phillips, K. (1990). The politics of rich and poor: Wealth and the American electorate in the Reagan aftermath. New York: Harpercollins.
Takaki, R. (1993). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Boston: Little Brown.
Zinn, H. (1995). A people’s history of the United States, 1492–present. (Rev. ed.). New York: Harper Collins.
Albelda, R., & Withorn, A. (Eds.). (2002). Lost ground: Welfare reform, poverty, and beyond. Boston: South End Press.
Allen, T. W. (1994). The invention of the white race: Racial oppression and social control. Verso Books.
Amott, T. (1993). Caught in the crisis: Women and the U.S. economy today. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Amott, T. & Matthaei, J. (1991). Race gender and work: A multicultural economic history of the women in the United States. Boston, MA: South
End Press.
Bluestone, B., & Harrison, B. (1984). The deindustrialization of America: Plant closings, community abandonment, and the dismantling of basic
industry. New York: Basic Books.
Collins, C., & Yeskel, F. (2005). Economic apartheid in America (2nd ed.). New York: The New Press.
Harding, V. (1983). There is a river: The black struggle for freedom in America. New York: Random House.
Katznelson, I. (2005). When affirmative action was white: An untold history of racial inequality in twentieth-century America. New York:
W.W. Norton.
Leondar-Wright, B. (2005). History of classism. Arizona University.
Phillips, K. (1990). The politics of rich and poor: Wealth and the American electorate in the Reagan aftermath. New York: Harpercollins.
Takaki, R. (1993). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Boston: Little Brown.
Zinn, H. (1995). A people’s history of the United States, 1492–present. (Rev. ed.). New York: Harper Collins.