Post by bethdolin on Jan 29, 2016 7:14:14 GMT
Prompt: For the years 1880 to 1925, analyze both the tensions surrounding the issue of immigration and the United States government’s response to these tensions.
Key Terms:
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882
American Protection Association 1887
Immigrant Restriction League
Political Machines/Bosses
Assimilation
Ellis Island - Literacy Tests
Living Conditions/Sanitation
Urbanization
Homestead Strike
Labor Contract Law repealed in 1885
Nativism
US vs Knight 1894
Crime Rates resulting in police reform
Social Gospel
American Federation of Labor
Public Health Service
Anarchist Exclusion Act 1903
US Border Patrol created 1924
Introduction: Following the Civil War, the United States became a popular destination for predominately Eastern Europeans seeking a new life. Nearly twelve million immigrants entered the country at the end of the nineteenth century, presenting a large workforce of unskilled laborers quickly hired by large corporations.
Thesis: The sudden influx of immigrants during 1880 to 1925 resulted in cultural tensions ranging from religious conflicts to those of language and communication. All of these conflicts, however resulted in widespread nativism and racism and led to government responses such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and literacy tests.
Body 1: Differences in looks and religion
looks: Prejudice and hatred towards Chinese
lots of political cartoons (“yellow newspaper”)
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
first act directed at a specific cultural group, Chinese felt violated because held great pride in their culture and offered so much labor to help the expansion of Western American society (railroads, mining, sf)
government action in response to widespread sentiment (anti-coolie clubs)
Religion: “reform Judaism”
Imported to US from Germany, an effort by Jewish leaders to make their faith less foreign to dominating Christian population
many immigrants wanted to become more “American” but were torn between assimilation efforts and family heritage customs
Religion was a big part of life, this incongruence between German immigrants and American-born society and also foreign holidays, traditions, and lifestyles made it harder for Americans to understand and have empathy for immigrants -> seen only as job inconvenience, Am. Protective Association, Immigration Restriction League
Body 2: Differences in language
Moving to a new place where very few people knew their language/culture led immigrants to form cultural ghettos.
this led to decreased economic success for immigrants bc it held them back from fully assimilating in America
That then caused them to be willing to take very low paying jobs which made other middle/low class americans despise them b/c served as an easy replacement for union uprisings, etc.
Resulted in widespread nativism
The fact that they didn't know the language made Ams despise them more because felt like a cultural society within a society, didn’t interact much and continued their own way of life while still wanting a part of American job market
literacy tests
an effort to keep some immigrants out
Later vetoed by Pres Grover Cleveland
Conclusion
Between 1880 and 1925, cultural tensions including religious differences, language, and communication. As these tensions built up, nativism and racism became large aspects in the society of America, leading the government to act on these tensions by creating the Chinese Exclusion Act and enforcing literacy tests upon entering the country.
Beth, Martha, Joanna
Key Terms:
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882
American Protection Association 1887
Immigrant Restriction League
Political Machines/Bosses
Assimilation
Ellis Island - Literacy Tests
Living Conditions/Sanitation
Urbanization
Homestead Strike
Labor Contract Law repealed in 1885
Nativism
US vs Knight 1894
Crime Rates resulting in police reform
Social Gospel
American Federation of Labor
Public Health Service
Anarchist Exclusion Act 1903
US Border Patrol created 1924
Introduction: Following the Civil War, the United States became a popular destination for predominately Eastern Europeans seeking a new life. Nearly twelve million immigrants entered the country at the end of the nineteenth century, presenting a large workforce of unskilled laborers quickly hired by large corporations.
Thesis: The sudden influx of immigrants during 1880 to 1925 resulted in cultural tensions ranging from religious conflicts to those of language and communication. All of these conflicts, however resulted in widespread nativism and racism and led to government responses such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and literacy tests.
Body 1: Differences in looks and religion
looks: Prejudice and hatred towards Chinese
lots of political cartoons (“yellow newspaper”)
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
first act directed at a specific cultural group, Chinese felt violated because held great pride in their culture and offered so much labor to help the expansion of Western American society (railroads, mining, sf)
government action in response to widespread sentiment (anti-coolie clubs)
Religion: “reform Judaism”
Imported to US from Germany, an effort by Jewish leaders to make their faith less foreign to dominating Christian population
many immigrants wanted to become more “American” but were torn between assimilation efforts and family heritage customs
Religion was a big part of life, this incongruence between German immigrants and American-born society and also foreign holidays, traditions, and lifestyles made it harder for Americans to understand and have empathy for immigrants -> seen only as job inconvenience, Am. Protective Association, Immigration Restriction League
Body 2: Differences in language
Moving to a new place where very few people knew their language/culture led immigrants to form cultural ghettos.
this led to decreased economic success for immigrants bc it held them back from fully assimilating in America
That then caused them to be willing to take very low paying jobs which made other middle/low class americans despise them b/c served as an easy replacement for union uprisings, etc.
Resulted in widespread nativism
The fact that they didn't know the language made Ams despise them more because felt like a cultural society within a society, didn’t interact much and continued their own way of life while still wanting a part of American job market
literacy tests
an effort to keep some immigrants out
Later vetoed by Pres Grover Cleveland
Conclusion
Between 1880 and 1925, cultural tensions including religious differences, language, and communication. As these tensions built up, nativism and racism became large aspects in the society of America, leading the government to act on these tensions by creating the Chinese Exclusion Act and enforcing literacy tests upon entering the country.
Beth, Martha, Joanna