Immigration of 1870 to 1910 Essay Example
Immigration of 1870 to 1910 Essay Example

Immigration of 1870 to 1910 Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (978 words)
  • Published: November 5, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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In the beginning of the era of 1870 through 1915, massive influx of immigrants came into the United States of America. These immigrants came from varies of nations and came for numerous different motives. Each individual group had their own uniqueness of experiences that assisted to shape the economic and social climate of their day.

Their experiences in this country, whether it was positive or negative, and their very own presence, forced Americans or even yet, non-immigrants, to take notice and adapt to new circumstances in countless ways. These ‘non-immigrants’ however, played a ommon role in society and that common role was to discriminate immigrants who were originating along their path. The objective for them is simply evident. The native born Americans in the United States are all for money making and when it comes to wor

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k ethics, they clearly had none.

These immigrants or as we now call them, Americans, came to the United States in numerous varieties. Out of the many varieties, Chinese people were one of the broadest. The Chinese came to the United States in the late 1800's to find their desirable possession, which is fortune. Majority came because of stories and legend they had eard about the wealth that could be found in America.

However, these can be seen in the many stories found in histories of America and China itself. It is obvious from their stories that Chinese immigrants were very resentful workers. They contributed to the economy, especially in the Western settlement, by providing many essential uses and services. Some opened laundries, while others functioned on the railroads.

It was even said that employers would hire no one

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else, but the Chinese if they were available due to their thriving work ethic. However, this would be the starting point of their problems.The treatment of the Chinese in this country is all mean and wrong. “It persisted in merely because China is not a fighting nation. The Americans would not dare to treat Germans, English, Italians or even Japanese as they treat the Chinese, because if they did there would be a war.

” (63) With this saying so, prejudice against the Chinese steadily increases. Chinese immigrants had a lot to offer the Americans and this is where Americans started taking advantage on the differences these immigrants perceived. “They are not allowed to bring wives here from China, and if they marry American omen there is a great outcry. ” (63) Just like this document had stated, Chinese immigrants are often shut down, making it extremely difficult to call the United States home. Native born Americans did not take kindly to this ‘conquer’ as they saw it. Since the Chinese were such tough and hard workers, they were in high demand by employers and their strong risk-taking business skills were enabling them to open Laundromats and small stores wherever they went or whenever they want.

This was seen by those who were native born as an offense to their right to gainful employment. The ChineseExclusion Act was then passed to stop Chinese Immigration and with an ability, cut them off. Therefore, propaganda sprouted up around the country directing to Chinese immigrants as inferior and out to erode stability of the United States. This great wave of immigrants caused an anti-immigrant backlash. Nativism, which is

a term used to signify anti-immigrant underlying feeling, became widespread during the early twentieth century. Groups such as the KKK and other nativism groups used violence against the Chinese as a technique to scare them off.

While these violent tactics did erode the fforts of Chinese immigrants, their risk-taking business spirit allowed them to start over again and again. Different immigrant groups around the country experienced hardships in many ways as well. Dividing separate labor was one way in which these groups were kept from assimilating. Some groups were seemingly constricted to working in steel mills, while others, especially women, were constricted to the garment industry. Discrimination amongst women were a major conflict during the reconstruction era. “To what depth of degradation must the women of this nation have fallen to be willing to stand aside, ilent, and indifferent spectators in the reconstruction of the nation, while all the lower stratus of manhood are to legislate in their interests, political, religious, educational, social, and sanitary, moulding to their untutored will the institutions of a mighty continent.

” (10) This offers a broad perspective in what women generally had to go through. Women, who are immigrants, cannot stand for themselves nor do what they want to do. Even though immigrants had no say back then, men had a better time with this than women. With this saying, one can conclude that prejudice against females ere increased due to the fact that they were looked upon as the ‘weak’ ones. These restrictions would lead to consequences such as the deaths of over 180 women in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. The policies in place due to the Immigration

Act were also one natives’ response to immigration.

Any immigrant who was considered to be unfit, an imbecile, or any number of other stereotypical descriptions was refused entry. Regardless of such policies, however, immigrants flourished and continued to flock to the United States to find a better way of life away from the poverty and suffering back in their homelands.The immigrants who came to the United States between 1870 and 1915 were striving for a better life. They were fleeing poverty and discrimination in their homeland and yet again, still found those things in the United States itself. They all had string work ethics and the cravings to build a better life in their new homes. Regardless of the challenges, and the fact that native-born Americans conflicted them in many ways, they continued and do continue to flourish.

Therefore, this can conclude that the United States over the decades of 1870 through 1915, was seemly very prejudice towards immigrants due to their work ethics.

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