N5 Modern Studies World Power - USA Booklet 2022 - 23 gw14curriegraham2@glow.sch.uk @MrCurrie9 Name____________________________________ 2 Pgs 3 - 4 Pgs 5 - 7 Pgs 8 - 11 Pg 14 Pg 13 Pg 12 Pgs 15 - 21 3 Political System 1. The Legislative Branch Who are the legislative branch? These are the people who MAKE the laws. This is carried out by the SENATE and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The collective name for this is CONGRESS. The presi- dent does get involved in the law making process as they must SIGN all bills before they be- come law. The head of the House is the third most powerful person in the USA. The House of Representatives There are 435 representatives elected to the house. Depending on the size of your state depends on how many representatives you have. The Senate Each state elects two senators. Therefore there are 100 senators elected in the USA. Examples of bills passed by the legislative branch • Families First Coronavirus Response Act • FUTURE Act • Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 • Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 2. The Executive Branch Who are the executive branch? This is the presidential branch of government. The president has many roles. His two main roles include to sign bills into law or VETO them and to be Commander - in - Chief of the army and Navy . The president and his staff are there to CARRY OUT THE LAWS which are made by Congress. Examples of Bills passed/Vetoed by the executive branch • Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act (Vetoed by President Trump) • United States - Mexico - Canada Agreement Implementation Act (Passed by President Trump) • The American Rescue Plan Act (Passed by President Biden) • As of August 2022, President Biden has not used his power of Veto. 3. The Judicial Branch Who are the Judicial Branch? This branch ensures the laws passed are allowed by the constitution and determines whether or not people are guilty of breaking the law. This function is carried out by the supreme court. Who are the Supreme Court members? NB: Stephen Breyer is stepping down and will be re- placed soon. 4 Examples of Supreme Court Actions • In 2022, the Supreme Court voted to overturn the Roe vs Wade ruling. This now allows individual states to create their own laws regarding abortion. Abortion was previously a federal law, meaning anyone could get an abortion in any state. It is now open to states to create their own laws on this issue. • In 2018, In a 5 - 4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Trump's travel ban that barred nearly all travellers from Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia — and add- ed a ban on travellers from North Korea and government officials from Venezuela. This was commonly known as the Muslim Travel Ban. Potential Questions 1. Describe, in detail, two features of the political system of the world power you have stud- ied. (4/6) 5 Participation Exam Hint! Participation is a broad topic. Questions could focus on HOW Americans participate, WHY they participate or WHY they don ’ t participate. HOW do Americans participate in politics? 1. Voting What do Americans vote on? US citizens have numerous opportunities to vote. At a local level they can vote for their Mayor. At a state wide level they can vote for members of the State Assembly, State Sen- ate and for the State Governor. At Federal level, they can vote in US Presidential elections and for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate often known as the mid - term elections. Examples of US Citizens voting In 2020, the US experienced a historic turnout rate of 65.1% – the highest in over 100 years. 2. Stand for Election Who can stand for election? Any US citizen over the age of 18 can stand for a position in US politics with the exception of the Presidency, where the candidate must be at least 35 years old. Examples of US citizens standing for election • Mayoral – Bill de Blasio has been Mayor of New York City since 2014. • Senate – Senator Bernie Sanders has been elected Senator of Vermont on 5 occasions. • House of Representatives – Alexandra Ocasio Cortez elected to the 166th Congress in 2018 and again in 2020. • President – Donald Trump was elected President in 2016. Joe Biden was elected Presi- dent in 2020. 3. Join a Political Party US citizens have the right to join political parties. There are numerous political parties but the two main parties are the Democrats and the Republicans. Members of these parties can help organise campaigns, fundraise and strategize elections for the party. Examples of joining a political party • In 2018, the Democrats had approximately 60 million registered members • In 2018, the Republicans had approximately 55 million registered members 4. Campaigning US citizens are allowed to campaign on behalf of an issue or a political party. Posters, leaf- lets and badges are commonly used at elections to promote a certain candidate and what they want for America. Individuals will use door - to - door canvassing, social media and telephone calls to campaign for a person or issue. 6 Examples of Campaigning • 1,000,000 people volunteered across the USA to campaign for Bernie Sanders to win the Democrat nomination for President in 2020. 5. Attend Rallies US Citizens can attend large events known as rallies to show support for their candidate or party in a election. These rallies are used to gather media attention as well as create net- works for ordinary voters and campaigners to organise. Examples of attending rallies • During the 2020 Presidential campaign, a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, attracted ap- prox. 6,200 people. Potential Questions 1. Describe, in detail, two ways the citizens of the world power you have studied can par- ticipate in politics. (4/6) WHY do Americans participate in Politics? 1. Their vote could matter Many US citizens feel that in areas of the country where the margins of victory are quite narrow, their vote can make a significant difference to the outcome of the election and can influence who has power and authority in their city, state or the nation. Example In 2017, a Virginia House of Delegates race ended in a tie out of more than 23,000 votes cast. The deadlock was broken by pure chance — the pulling of a name out of a bowl — and resulted in a win for Republican David Yancey. 2. The right to vote Many American citizens understand the importance of their vote because they may be from a group that did not always have that right. Women in America could not vote until 1920. Most Black people couldn ’ t vote until the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. They use their vote because they feel it is important to use it as it had to be fought for. Example The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) are currently running a campaign called Black Voices Change Lives, encouraging Black people to vote in the 2022 Mid - term elections. WHY do Americans not participate in Politics? 1. Voter Registration Rules In the USA, you must provide valid ID to be able to vote. Each state has its own rules with some being very strict. The problem for ethnic minorities is that they are often the least likely to own a form of ID such as driver ’ s licence or passport. This can lead to many ethnic minorities not voting. 7 Examples of Voter Registration Laws • 2015 – Alabama ruled that all voters must provide a driver ’ s licence to vote. They also closed 31 driver ’ s licence offices based in black communities. • Hispanics are affected the most: Turnout is 7.1% lower in general elections in strict ID states than it is in other states. • In Georgia, more than 200 polling stations were closed ahead of the 2018 election, pri- marily in counties with higher poverty rates and significant Black populations. 2. Gerrymandering Definition: To manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party, class or race. Gerrymandering is a system where the lines that define different voting areas, often known as precincts, are deliberately changed or manipulated to benefit the party in charge. This is often done by wealth, class or race. This causes many potential voters to not participate be- cause they feel their vote is worthless or will be restricted by the gerrymandered system. Examples of Gerrymandering • The US Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that gerrymandering done in 2011 in North Caroli- na was illegal and done to weaken the influence of black voters. • In North Carolina in 2021, Republicans have drawn a new congressional map that gives them a lock on at least 10 of the state ’ s 14 congressional seats. • 2021 - Gerrymandering in North Carolina dropped the percentage of Black Voters from 44% to 42%, giving the Republicans an advantage in the state. Potential Questions 1. Explain, in detail, two reasons why citizens of the world power you have studied partici- pate in politics. (6). 2. Explain, in detail, two reason why some citizens of the world power you have studied do not participate in politics (6) 8 Representation Exam Hint! Representation is a large area of the course. You could get asked questions about HOW has representation improved or WHY are there still problems with representation. This booklet provides information on three different groups: Women, Ethnic Minorities and LGBTQIA+. For your revision, you only need to focus on one of these groups. HOW has representation improved for WOMEN? 1. More Candidates More women are putting themselves forward in elections, especially at Federal Level. This is an improvement as it gives more opportunities for women to become elected and have influ- ence over the Government. Examples • In total, 643 women were candidates in congressional primary elections in 2020. 2. Maintaining positions of power Many women who have been elected into Congress have successfully maintained their posi- tions. This improves representation for women as it shows that women can have longevity and are proving successful and popular with voters. Examples • All four members of “ the Squad ” were re - elected. These women – Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez and Rashida Tlaib are known for their progres- sive policies. 3. Senior Positions Many female politicians are in high ranking and powerful positions in the US Government. This improved representation as women are better represented at the most senior levels which have the most influence and power. Examples • Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House (3rd highest rank in US politics) and Kamala Harris is the Vice - President (second highest rank). WHY are there still problems with representation for WOMEN? 1. Harder to get into politics Many women feel there are unspoken and invisible barriers for them to get into party poli- tics. Things such as sexism can make it feel like politics is a male - dominated profession. This leads to women being discouraged to get involved. Examples According to a new Pew Research Center survey, most women in politics say men still have an easier path to the top and that women have to do more to prove their worth. 2. Party Attitudes Many women have said that the two main parties, Democrats and Republicans, have very dif- ferent views about female involvement in politics. Generally, Republican women have noted 9 That their party is less accepting of women and that they have faced problems within the party. This leads to underrepresentation as many women feel undermined and excluded from being involved. Examples • Democrats are more than twice as likely as Republicans to say there are too few women in high political offices (79% vs. 33%). • 64% of Democrats say gender discrimination is a major reason why women are un- derrepresented in these positions, only 30% of Republicans agree. 3. Leadership The leadership of both the Democrats and the Republicans is still mainly dominated by men. This discourages representation as many women feel they cannot progress to the top levels of US politics. Examples Roughly a third of Republican men (32%) who see a gender gap in leadership styles say men have the better approach, while only 6% say women have a better approach. HOW has representation improved for ETHNIC MINORITIES? 1. High Profile Figures Some Ethnic Minority politicians have found themselves in high - ranking positions of power and influence. This improves representation as it gives more opportunities for ethnic minority politicians to have influence over the Government. Example Kamala Harris is the first non - white Vice - President in US History. 2. More Candidates In recent elections there has been an increase in the amount of ethnic minority candidates putting themselves up for election at local, state and federal level. This improves representation as it gives more opportunities for ethnic minority politicians to be elected into positions of power and have influence over the Government. Example Black women set a new record in 2020 with 117 entering primaries for the House and 13 for the U.S. Senate. 3. Rival Candidates In recent elections, many ethnic minority candidates have been in direct competition with each other for positions of power. This improves representation as it shows that there is a growing number of ethnic minority candidates being selected. Example Florida ’ s Val Demings, Florida ’ s Frederica Wilson and Georgia ’ s Nikema Williams won their congressional races after defeating other Black women. 10 WHY are there still problems with representation for ETHNIC MINORITIES? 1. Majority White Candidates Many ethnic minority voters find it hard to connect or relate to white candidates as they feel their experiences/outlook is so radically different from their own. This leads to lack of representation as many ethnic minority voters will not participate in the voting process. Example 91% of the US Senate is white representatives. 2. Lack of representation at State level At state political level, there are major problems with under - representation for ethnic mi- norities. This leads to under - representation as state politics is often a more realistic way for people to first get involved in the running of politics in the US. Example There are no black governors in office today, and there have been only four in U.S. history 3. Unrealistic Many ethnic minority citizens in the US believe it is unrealistic for them to become elected officials. This leads to lack of representation as these barriers often put people getting in- volved in the first place. Example The New American Leaders Project report finds that current Asian American and Latino state lawmakers envision themselves as office - holders less frequently than their colleagues. HOW has representation improved for the LGBTQIA+ Community? 1. Cultural Shift In the US, there has arguably been a shift in people ’ s knowledge, awareness and respect for LGBTQIA+ issues. Public awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues and individuals has potentially lead to more acceptance and better representation. Examples • In Delaware, Sarah McBride was elected to the state senate, becoming the first transgender state senator in US history. • In New York, Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres have be- come the first Black and Afro - latino members of congress who identify as LGBTQIA+ • Mauree Turner has become the first non - binary individual elected to state legislature in the US after winning a seat in Oklahoma City. • Torrey Harris and Eddie Mannis have become the first LGBTQIA+ people elected in Tennessee. 2. Increase in representation More and more LGBTQIA+ people are representing communities across US politics. This im- proves representation as it provides more of a platform for LGBTQIA+ issues to be raised in politics. 11 Example At least 843 LGBTQ people currently serve in elected offices across the United States, constituting a 21 percent increase since June 2019. 3. Normalisation One theory as to the increase in LGBTQIA+ representation is that people from the communities presence and involvement in politics has become normalised. This improves representation as it can remove the stigmas and bigotries about LGBTQIA+ people being elected officials and encourage more participation. Example Only three states remain where LGBTQIA+ lawmakers have not held positions. WHY are there still problems with representation for the LGBTQIA+ Community? 1. Not viable to become elected Many LGBTQIA+ people feel that getting elected would be an unrealistic goal. This leads to underrepresentation as many people would not even think about putting themselves forward for office and the chance to become elected. Example Mauree Turner said: “ I ’ m black, Muslim, femme, queer, born and raised in Oklahoma – poli- tics was the last thing in my crosshairs. ” 2. Homophobia and Transphobia Many LGBTQIA+ candidates receive hostility and bigotry when campaigning. This leads to underrepresentation because many people would not want to put themselves in that position whereby they are threatened or humiliated. Example In Colorado, Brianna Titone was re - elected following a Republican waged, transphobic cam- paign against her. Titone overcame hateful ads on Facebook that referred to her as a man and used her birth name. 3. One Party Many LGBTQIA+ candidates are only having electoral success via the Democrats. This leads to underrepresentation as many LGBTQIA+ people are being excluded from the chance to gain office due to the views of the Republican party. Example Currently, all LGBTQIA+ representatives are either independents or Democrats. None of the LGBTQIA+ representatives in Congress are from the Republican Party. Potential Questions 1. Explain, in detail, two reasons why representation has improved for a group in the world power you have studied. (6). 2. Explain, in detail, two reasons why representation has not improved for a group in the world power you have studied(6) 12 Influence on other countries Exam Hint! Influence on other countries is split into three sections: political, economic and military You must focus on all three of these. USA ’ s POLITICAL Influence This section focuses on the political decisions made by the US President and Congress as well as decision made at the United Nations which have an impact/influence over the world. 1. UN Security Council The USA has a seat on the United Nations security council who make decisions regarding war and conflict. This gives them the power to influence other nations wars and conflicts as well as the power of VETO meaning they can overrule any other members decisions. Example May 2020 – The US Government Vetoed the UN security council ’ s call for ceasefires in global conflict zones to help stop the spread of COVID - 19. 2. G20 membership The USA is also a member of the G20. This is a group of the 20 most powerful economic countries. This gives the USA immense political influence as they can decide which levels debts are paid off at as well as make trading agreements across the world. Example June 2019 – The USA and China agreed to trade products (particularly by Huawei) more freely. 3. Paris Climate Agreement The USA has made a number of political decisions in the USA which have a knock - on effect on the rest of the world. The Paris Climate Agreement is a commitment to reduce the im- pact of climate change. This influences the world as the US is a major user of fossil fuels meaning that if the US did not follow the agreement it means that the world may struggle to meet its climate change targets and have a negative impact on their environment. Example Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement but Joe Biden reinstated the US ’ s commitment. 13 USA ’ s ECONOMIC Influence This section focuses on the economic power and influence of the USA. Economic power can refer to jobs, industries, goods, trading and resources. 1. Large Economy The USA has the world ’ s largest economy. Their annual GDP is $20.412 Trillion. This influ- ences the world as many countries rely on the USA to give them loans in order to function. The US couldn ’ t provide this if they didn ’ t have a huge economy. Example Donald Trump planned to cut foreign aid by 30% in a policy known as “ America First ”. 2. Imports and Exports The USA manufactures many products which are sold around the world. This is important as many countries rely on American goods to provide jobs and services that they need to func- tion. Examples • The US car industry sells $125 Billion a year in exports. • 60% of trades around the world are done in US curren- cy making the US the second largest trading nation be- hind China. 3. Financial Aid The USA ’ s economy allows it to donate financial aid to coun- tries whose GDP is below average. This is hugely important to the rest of the world as many nations depend on that money to provide basic services. Example America ’ s annual aid budget is $23 Billion. 4. Wall Street The USA is home to many of the world ’ s largest banks and businesses. Huge international banks such as Goldman Sachs and Bank of America operate out of Wall Street, New York. This gives the USA huge economic power as they set the rates at which stocks and shares are traded and allow international companies to trade and make money in the USA. Example For example, the NASDAQ (the world ’ s biggest trading market) is located in Wall Street. 14 USA ’ s MILITARY Influence This section focuses on the military power and influence of the USA. Military power can re- fer to wars, anti - terrorism, conflict management and weapons. 1. Military Spending The USA spends more on its military than the rest of the top 10 com- bined. This has a signif- i c a n t i n f l u e n c e o n t h e rest of the world as many other nations are forced to increase their spending to attempt to keep up with the USA. Example US Military spending is $590 Billion per year. 2. Nuclear Weapons The USA is one of the 8 nations with nuclear bombs (alongside Russia, China, India, Pakistan, UK, France and North Korea). This makes them very powerful as due to their large nuclear arse- nal, it is highly unlikely that a nation would stage an attack against them without fearing reprisal. Example As of 2019, the USA has 6,185 nuclear warheads. 3. Active Role in Conflicts The USA is currently involved in many military operations across the world. This makes America very powerful as they often shape the outcome of many international conflicts. Example They are involved in air strikes in Syria against ISIS as well as the use of a M.O.A.B in Lib- ya. Their navy also patrols the Indian Ocean fighting Somalian piracy. Potential Questions 1. Explain, in detail, how the world power you have studied influences the world politically (6) 2. Explain, in detail, how the world power you have studied influences the world economically (6) 3. Explain, in detail, how the world power you have studied influences the world militarily (6) 15 Social and Economic Issues Exam Hint! For this section you must make sure that you pick 2 social issues and 2 economic issues For each you must understand the CAUSE of the issue and WHY the issue particularly af- fects ethnic minorities. SOCIAL ISSUE 1 - EDUCATION CAUSE of Education inequality 1. Funding Generally half of the money that is required to operate schools comes from the state and the remaining half is raised through local property and sales taxes. Those communities which have high property values pay more in tax and can provide high quality facilities, newest software and best teachers but poorer districts find it difficult to fund the basics. Schooling in deprived communities is substandard, with a lack of resources as well as lack of teachers. Often the lack of money also leads to problems as students have no access to technology. Example 2015 Department of Education Report - In Pennsylvania, the highest poverty districts spend 33% less than the lowest poverty districts. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by education inequality? 1. Location In the past few decades, White students were concentrated in suburban and rural areas, with lower percentages in cities and towns. Black and Hispanic students were concentrated in cities and inner city areas. Inner city schools do not receive the same funding as those from affluent neighbourhoods and therefore struggle to provide as good a quality of education. Example • Overwhelmingly White school districts received $23 billion more in funding than pre- dominantly non - White school districts in 2016. • 2019 Report showed a $23 billion disparity faced by districts composed largely of students of colour. 2. Language Barriers Many Ethnic Minorities either don ’ t speak English or speak English with difficulty. This makes education a challenge as they can struggle with the literacy element of learning (e.g. reading, writing, speech etc.) Example • In 2016, about 69% of Hispanic and 64% of Asian elementary/secondary school stu- dents spoke a language other than English at home. • About 18% of Hispanic and 17% of Asian students spoke English with difficulty. 16 SOCIAL ISSUE 2 - Housing CAUSE of Housing inequality 1. Funding There are huge differences in terms of houses and neighbourhoods in America. Housing can have a huge impact on citizen ’ s lives. The big divide in housing is due to the quality of the houses made available to the public. Typically, inner - city housing, especially social housing (houses given to Americans who cannot afford their own property) is off poor quality. Those Americans who live in private property (property they own or rent) or who live in the sub- urbs have a much higher standard of living. Example • On average, living in the suburbs grants you an additional 300 square feet of living space. • In the U.S. today, for every 100 households classified as extremely low - income, just 29 houses are both available and affordable. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by education inequality? 1. Home Ownership Many Ethnic Minorities are unable to afford good quality housing due to poor wages. During the housing boom of the last two decades, homeownership rates increased to record levels. However, since then, the collapse in the housing market (2008) and spiralling rent and prop- erty prices has brought declining homeownership rates. Example • For Hispanic/Latinos, after reaching a record high of 49.8% in 2006, the homeowner- ship rate fell to 44.4% in 2016. For Blacks the rate is lower at 48.3% in 2006 and fell to 42.1% in 2016. • 2017 study found just 41% of Black households own their own home, compared with more than 73% of white households. In fact, college educated Black people are less likely to own their own homes than white people who never finished high school. 17 SOCIAL ISSUE 3 - Health CAUSE of Health inequality 1. Cost of Healthcare Unlike the UK, America does not have a National Health Service that is free to use. American citizens pay for their medical bills through private medical insurance – Americans need to pay for their healthcare. Many Americans are uninsured for a number of reasons as they may be unemployed or their employer doesn ’ t pro- vide medical insurance. Example • 27 million - The number of uninsured Americans in 2016. That's 10% of the total popu- lation. • 91.2% - The percentage of Americans who were insured in 2016. • 8.5% - The percentage of Americans in 2018 who had no form of health insurance (27.5 million people) • 26.9% - Percentage of people earning less than $25,000 a year who are also uninsured. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by health inequality? 1. Cost of Insurance Ethnic minorities are far more likely to be uninsured than the American population as a whole. This could be due to ethnic minorities being more likely to earn insufficient wages to allow for private health insurance. Perhaps as a result, despite notable progress in the over- all health of the nation, there are continuing disparities in the burden of illness and death experienced by minorities. Example • While just 6.3% of Whites don't have insurance coverage, the same is true for 16% of Hispanics, 10% of blacks and 7.6% of Asians. 18 SOCIAL ISSUE 4 - Criminal Justice System CAUSE of Criminal Justice Inequality The Criminal Justice system in the USA has been heavily criticised for its many flaws. The criminal justice system involves the Police, the Courts and the Prison System. 1. Systematic Bias Most crimes that are committed in the USA take place in the inner city areas. These areas tend to be highly concentrated in poorer areas that have large Black and Hispanics populations. It is often suggested and argued that discrimination plays a big part when it comes to sentencing ethnic minorities at all stages of the justice system – Arrests, Prosecu- tions, Prison sentences and the Death Penalty Example A survey of data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission last year found that when black men and white men commit the same crime, black men on average receive a sentence almost 20% longer. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by Criminal Justice inequality? 1. Systematic Racism It is argued that a form of systematic racism against Black and Hispanic people makes them more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for crimes compared to White people. It is also argued that prison sentences are longer for ethnic minority criminals and that ethnic minority criminals are more likely to receive the death penal- ty. Examples • A 2017 study of 4.5 million traf- fic stops by the 100 largest police departments in North Carolina found that blacks and Latinos were more likely to be searched than whites (5.4%, 4.1% and 3.1%, respec- tively), even though searches of white motorists were more likely than the others to turn up contraband (whites: 32%, blacks: 29%, Latinos: 19%). • As of May 2019, data from New York City showed that black people are arrested for marijuana at eight times the rate of white people. In Manhattan, it ’ s 15 times as much. Black neighbourhoods produce far more arrests than white neighbourhoods, despite data showing a similar rate at which residents complain about marijuana use. • A 2016 study found that in Louisiana, killers of white victims were 14 times more likely to be executed than killers of black victims. Black men who killed white women were 30 times more likely to get the death penalty than black men who killed black men. 19 ECONOMIC ISSUE 1 - Income and Poverty CAUSE of Income and Poverty Inequality 1. Low Wages Many Americans have low levels of income and as a result live in poverty. Approximately 38.4% are in what Americans would describe as the middle class, with annual earnings be- tween $35K – $100K. Example As of February 2022, 14.4% of the US population lived in poverty. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by Income and Poverty Inequality? In the US there are number of factors that con- tribute to the differences in wages observed be- tween white Americans and Americans of other races. Education - affects wages because it allows ac- cess to occupations of higher status that offer greater earnings. Types of jobs - White and Asian Americans, who have the highest median incomes, are con- centrated more in professional, executive, and managerial occupations than blacks, Hispan- ics, or American Indians. Born outside the US – People who are not born in America but come to seek work are mar- ginally worse off than other groups. ’ Language barriers ’ can cause difficulties for some im- migrants trying to find work. Discrimination - Research has found wage and employment discrimination against blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asians; however, discrimination has been found to a much larger contrib- uting factor for black wages than wages of other races. Examples Right: 2018 US Census Data on highest poverty rate by race. 20 ECONOMIC ISSUE 2 - Unemployment CAUSE of Unemployment Inequality 1. Economic Problems Unemployment remains a major inequality in the USA. The 2008 recession had a devastating effect on employment in the USA. The current COVID - 19 pandemic has also had a disas- trous effect on employment throughout the USA with many companies failing and people los- ing their jobs. Examples • The US unemployment rate jumped to 14.7% in April 2020 as the Covid - 19 crisis threw millions out of work. • The number of unemployed persons rose by 15.9 million to 23.1 million, while the num- ber of employed declined by 22.4 million to 133.4 million. • The labour force participation rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points over the month to 60.2% , the lowest rate since January 1973. WHY are ethnic minorities particularly affected by Unemployment Inequality? In the US there are number of factors that contribute to the differences in employment observed between white Americans and Americans of other races. Education - Ethnic Minorities are more likely to have a lower standard of qualifications mak- ing many jobs unattainable. Born outside the US – People who are not born in America but come to seek work are mar- ginally worse off than other groups. ’ Language barriers ’ can cause difficulties for some im- migrants trying to find work. Discrimination - Research has and employment discrimination against blacks, Native Ameri- cans, Hispanics, and Asians Examples In the fourth quarter of 2018, African American workers had the highest unemployment rate nationally, at 6.5%, followed by Hispanic (4.5%), Asian (3.2%) and white workers (3.1%)