ESPM 50AC MIDTERM REVIEW

These flashcards cover key concepts and historical insights related to Hurricane Katrina, racial formation, federal Indian policy, environmental impact, and the dynamics of power and land in America.

What did Hurricane Katrina devastate?

New Orleans, submerging neighborhoods and taking hundreds of lives.

What geographical feature primarily influences New Orleans' vulnerability to flooding?

Much of the city lies below sea level on swampy, unstable ground.

What was the primary approach used to prevent flooding in New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina?

Levees only approach, which relied solely on building and strengthening levees.

What was a consequence of the levees-only approach by the early 1900s?

New Orleans was raised higher than the river, leading to levee failures in 1927.

Who were disproportionately affected by Hurricane Katrina flooding?

African Americans and poor residents.

What major societal divide did Hurricane Katrina reveal in New Orleans?

The segregation of wealthier residents living on higher ground and poorer Black residents in flood-prone areas.

What environmental damage occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina?

The wetlands lost their ability to absorb floodwaters, exacerbating flooding.

What historical context contributed to the racial disparities observed during Hurricane Katrina?

Decades of racial segregation placed poor Black communities in the lowest, most flood-prone areas.

What was the impact of the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina on public perception?

It exposed racial bias in language and depiction, framing Black victims as 'looters' and white victims as 'finders'.

What is the core argument regarding race outlined by Omi and Winant?

Race is not fixed but constantly made and remade through social structures, cultural meanings, and political struggles.

Define 'hegemonic racial projects' according to the lecture notes.

Dominant ideas and policies that reinforce existing racial hierarchies.

What did the colonization of America mean for Indigenous land rights according to Locke's theory?

Colonization framed land as 'empty', giving settlers the legal right to claim ownership.

What significant consequences did the Dawes Act (1887) have on Indigenous populations?

It divided tribal lands into private plots and led to significant loss of tribal land.

What does 'self-determination' refer to in the context of federal Indian policy?

The ability of tribes to reclaim governance and control over their programs and affairs.

What was a key feature of the 'Reservation & Assimilation' approach to Native Americans?

Confined tribes to reservations with the goal of 'civilizing' and 'Christianizing' them.

How does the Federal Indian policy impact Indigenous sovereignty?

Although tribes have some self-governance, federal policies historically have limited their sovereignty.

What role did the fur trade play in altering Indigenous social structures?

It incorporated Indigenous communities into a European-driven economic system, creating dependency.

What is the ecological impact of the beaver on North American environments?

Beavers are keystone species that create wetlands, which support biodiversity.

What does 'cultural burning' mean, as practiced by Indigenous groups?

Using controlled fires to manage landscapes, promote ecological health, and preserve traditional practices.

What myth about Indigenous peoples does Krech argue is oversimplified?

The 'Ecological Indian' myth, which portrays Native peoples as inherently sustainable environmentalists.

What is the agrarian myth in relation to American identity?

The belief that farmers are virtuous and self-sufficient, foundational to democracy, ignoring realities of oppression.