AP Human Geography-Ethnicity

Racist

Definition: A person who subscribes to the beliefs of racism. Example: Ben Boyd(JK) Application: Racists frequently start fights and other conflicts.

Sharecropper

Definition: A person who works fields rented from a landowner and pays the rent and repays loans by turning over to the landowner a share of the crops. Example: Ben Boyds Grandma 75 years ago. Application: Causes economic flow as well as agriculture efficiency.

Triangular Slave Trade

Definition: A practice, primarily during the eighteenth century, in which European ships transported slaves from Africa to Caribbean islands, molasses from the Caribbean to Europe, and trade goods from Europe to Africa. Example: Africa-->Caribbean-->Europe Application: Lots of money was distributed through this.

Blockbusting

Definition: A process by which real estate agents convince white property owners to sell their houses at low prices because of fear that black families will soon move into the neighborhood. Example: Sally sold her house because she heard that the Johnsons were moving next door. (slightly racist, but effective for learning) Application: Blockbusting is a loophole in the retail market that causes weird economic turns.

Multiethnic State

Definition: A state that contains more than one ethnicity Example: U.S.A Application: Multiethnic states can be very beneficial. However, if not governed correctly, they can become very hostile.

Nation-State

Definition: A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality Example: An example of a nation state is Denmark Application: Nation-states typically have very little fighting or turmoil.

Centripetal Force

Definition: An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state Example: MLK was a centripetal force. Application: Centripetal forces counter discrimination, a huge problem that the world currently faces.

Racism

Definition: Belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Example: Slavery in the USA Application: Racism changed the world because of the direct impact it had on the people here in America as well as here.

Self-determination

Definition: Concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves Example: Any Nation State Application: Self determination causes many problems in multiethnic states

Balkanized

Definition: Descriptive of a small geographic area that could not successfully be organized into one or more stable states because it was inhabited by many ethnicities with complex, long-standing antagonisms toward each other. Example: Rwanda? Application: Balkanized regions are very unstable and often have lots of war/turmoil

Race

Definition: Identity with a group of people descended from a common ancestor. Example: Human? Application: A race is based off of specific ancestry.

Ethnicity

Definition: Identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions. Example: Caucasian Application: An ethnicity is an identity with a group based off of physical and mental trait. Not to be confused with Nationality

Nationality

Definition: Identity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place as a result of being born there. Example: Ben Boyd's nationality is American Application: Refers to state of birth--not to be confused with ethnicity.

Apartheid

Definition: Laws (no longer in effect) in South Africa that physically separated different races into different geographic areas. Example: There were apartheid laws in South Africa between around 1950 to 1994. Application: These laws significantly added to the amount of racial discrimination in South Africa

Nationalism

Definition: Loyalty and devotion to a particular nationality. Example: "America is better than England" Application: Nationalism can easily push the limits of patriotism resulting in fighting and lots of anger.

Balkanization

Definition: Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities Example: Sudan is currently undergoing balkanization. Application: Balkanization is the destruction of a state due to ethnic conflicts--obviously its pretty important.

Ethnic Cleansing

Definition: Process in which more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful one in order to create an ethnically homogeneous region Example:The holocaust was an example of an (attempted) ethnic cleansing. Application: The whole idea of ethnic cleansing is atrocious because it is the attempt to wipe out an entire ethnicity.

Multinational State

Definition: State that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities. Example: Scotland Application: Multinational states are an example of how multiethnic states can remain peaceful.