Exam (elaborations)

HSY2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024 | Due 26 August 2024

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Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)

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Post-Western World

HSY2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024 | Due 26 August 2024. Multiple Essays Provided. Discuss some historical grounds for the rise of racist beliefs in the 19th century. - Provide contextual examples from the study guide and suggested readings. Length 500 words max

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hsy2601 assignment 2 semester 2 2024

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1. Discuss some historical grounds for the rise of racist beliefs in the 19th century. - Provide
contextual examples from the study guide and suggested readings.

 Essay 1

Introduction
The 19th century was a period marked by significant social, economic, and political transformations
across the globe. Among the most troubling legacies of this era is the rise and institutionalization of
racist beliefs, which have had lasting effects on societies worldwide. These beliefs did not emerge in
a vacuum; they were the result of complex interactions between historical events, scientific
developments, and cultural narratives. This essay aims to explore the historical grounds for the rise
of racist beliefs in the 19th century, drawing on contextual examples from the study guide and
suggested readings. By examining the intellectual currents, colonial expansions, and socio-political
dynamics of the time, we can better understand how racism became entrenched in the social fabric of
many societies during this period.

The Intellectual Foundation: Pseudo-Scientific Racism
One of the most significant factors contributing to the rise of racist beliefs in the 19th century was
the development of pseudo-scientific theories that sought to justify the idea of racial hierarchy. The
period saw the emergence of "scientific racism," a term used to describe the misuse of science to
support the belief in the superiority of certain races over others. This era was marked by the works of
figures such as Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, who classified humanity into different races based on
physical characteristics, and Samuel George Morton, who used cranial measurements to argue for the
intellectual superiority of certain races.

The study guide suggests that these pseudo-scientific ideas were not merely academic exercises but
had profound implications for social policies and public attitudes. For example, Morton’s work was
used to justify slavery in the United States by providing a supposedly scientific rationale for the
belief that African Americans were inherently inferior to white people. This pseudo-scientific racism
laid the groundwork for more formalized systems of racial discrimination, such as the Jim Crow laws
in the United States and apartheid in South Africa .

Colonial Expansion and the Justification of Imperialism
The 19th century was also the age of imperialism, during which European powers expanded their
empires across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This period of colonial expansion was deeply
intertwined with the rise of racist beliefs. The doctrine of European superiority was used to justify
the subjugation and exploitation of non-European peoples. Colonial powers often portrayed their
imperial endeavors as a civilizing mission, bringing "progress" and "enlightenment" to the so-called
"primitive" societies they encountered.

The study guide points out that the colonization of Africa provides a stark example of how racist
ideologies were used to legitimize imperialism. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which
formalized the partitioning of Africa among European powers, was underpinned by the belief that
Europeans were destined to rule over African peoples. The colonial rhetoric often depicted Africans

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Exam (elaborations)

HSY2601 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024 | Due 26 August 2024

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