How Did The Mexican Government's Allocation Of Land Grants To Californios Under The Mexican Secularization Act Of 1834 Inadvertently Contribute To The Displacement And Marginalization Of Native American Tribes, Such As The Ohlone And Miwok, In The Bay Area, And How Did This Early Example Of Colonialist Policy Influence The Development Of Racist Attitudes And Practices Towards Native Americans Among Early White Settlers In California?

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The Mexican Secularization Act of 1834 played a pivotal role in the displacement and marginalization of Native American tribes such as the Ohlone and Miwok in the Bay Area, with lasting impacts on the development of racist attitudes among early white settlers. Here's a structured overview of the issue:

  1. Secularization Act and Land Redistribution:

    • The Act transferred land from the Catholic Church to Californios, Mexican citizens, leading to the displacement of Native Americans who had been living and working on these mission lands.
    • Natives were excluded from landownership, pushing them off their traditional territories and disrupting their access to essential resources.

  2. Displacement and Marginalization:

    • Native Americans lost their homes, food sources, and cultural sites, forcing them into smaller, less viable areas or into labor for new landowners.
    • This exclusion contributed to their marginalization, treating them as inferior without rights or protections.

  3. Influence on Racist Attitudes Among White Settlers:

    • The existing system of marginalization influenced white settlers, who adopted similar practices, viewing Natives as obstacles to progress.
    • The concept of Manifest Destiny justified expansion and the taking of Native lands, reinforcing racist ideologies.

  4. Population Decline and Continued Suffering:

    • Tribes like the Ohlone and Miwok experienced population decline due to land loss, disease, and violence.
    • The arrival of white settlers exacerbated these issues with more disease and land grabbing.

  5. Policy Continuity and Lack of Protection:

    • The Mexican government's failure to protect Native rights continued under U.S. rule, leading to policies like forced relocation and assimilation.

In conclusion, the Secularization Act initiated the displacement of Native Americans, setting a precedent for further marginalization and racism by white settlers, deeply affecting Native populations and contributing to long-standing injustices.