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The Changing Face of the Nation: The Changing Face of the Nation: Proponents & Opponents of the Proponents & Opponents of the

New OrderNew Order

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The Changing Face of the NationThe Changing Face of the Nation

As population pressures eased in Western As population pressures eased in Western Europe, the number of immigrants from Europe, the number of immigrants from Eastern Europe, and eventually Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and eventually Africa, Asia, Oceana, and the Americas, increased Oceana, and the Americas, increased tremendously. tremendously.

The influx of these new outsiders threatened The influx of these new outsiders threatened "native" Americans by bringing their own "native" Americans by bringing their own customs, traditions, and religions.customs, traditions, and religions.

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Changing Face of the Nation Changing Face of the Nation

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Changing Face of the Nation Changing Face of the Nation

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Changing Face of the Nation Changing Face of the Nation

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Changing Face of the Nation Changing Face of the Nation

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Immigration RestrictionsImmigration Restrictions

There have been restrictions on immigration to America since There have been restrictions on immigration to America since the colonial period, but not until the late 19th Century did the colonial period, but not until the late 19th Century did legislation become particularly restrictive, focusing on groups of legislation become particularly restrictive, focusing on groups of people sectioned by ethnicity, profession, and national origin.people sectioned by ethnicity, profession, and national origin.

The 1875 Immigration Law was designed to outright exclude The 1875 Immigration Law was designed to outright exclude Asians and, indirectly, unmarried women. Asians and, indirectly, unmarried women.

By specifically making it illegal for anyone to enter the United By specifically making it illegal for anyone to enter the United States for the purposes of prostitution, the entrance of States for the purposes of prostitution, the entrance of unmarried women was at the sole discretion of individual unmarried women was at the sole discretion of individual agents. agents. "That it shall be unlawful for aliens of the following classes to immigrate "That it shall be unlawful for aliens of the following classes to immigrate

into the United States, namely, persons who are undergoing a sentence into the United States, namely, persons who are undergoing a sentence for conviction in their own country of felonious crimes other than political for conviction in their own country of felonious crimes other than political or growing out of or the result of such political offenses, or whose or growing out of or the result of such political offenses, or whose sentence has been remitted on condition of their emigration, and women sentence has been remitted on condition of their emigration, and women "imported for the purposes of prostitution.""imported for the purposes of prostitution."

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In 1882, a 50 cent head tax was instituted and convicts In 1882, a 50 cent head tax was instituted and convicts and lunatics were specifically barred from entry. and lunatics were specifically barred from entry.

In 1891, the list of undesirable citizens was expanded to In 1891, the list of undesirable citizens was expanded to include, among others, paupers, diseased people, and include, among others, paupers, diseased people, and those who had their passage paid by someone else.those who had their passage paid by someone else.

The 1917 Quota Act, which appears below, implemented The 1917 Quota Act, which appears below, implemented an $8 head tax, an exhaustive list of undesirables, and set an $8 head tax, an exhaustive list of undesirables, and set temporary national origin quotas.temporary national origin quotas.

"That the following classes of aliens shall be excluded from admission into "That the following classes of aliens shall be excluded from admission into the United States: All idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, the United States: All idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, insane persons; persons who have had one or more attacks of insanity at insane persons; persons who have had one or more attacks of insanity at any time previously; persons of constitutional psychopathic inferiority; any time previously; persons of constitutional psychopathic inferiority; persons with chronic alcoholism; paupers; professional beggars; vagrants; persons with chronic alcoholism; paupers; professional beggars; vagrants; persons afflicted with tuberculosis in any form or with a loathsome or persons afflicted with tuberculosis in any form or with a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease;" dangerous contagious disease;"

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The 1924 Immigration Act, or Johnson-Reed Act, codified The 1924 Immigration Act, or Johnson-Reed Act, codified the national origins quotas and gave more complete the national origins quotas and gave more complete power to the Immigration Bureau to regulate the national power to the Immigration Bureau to regulate the national standards.standards.

During congressional debate over the 1924 Act, Senator During congressional debate over the 1924 Act, Senator Ellison DuRant Smith of South Carolina drew on the Ellison DuRant Smith of South Carolina drew on the racist theories of Madison Grant to argue that immigration racist theories of Madison Grant to argue that immigration restriction was the only way to preserve existing restriction was the only way to preserve existing American resources. The text of his speech from American resources. The text of his speech from Congress follows below.Congress follows below.

"It seems to me the point as to this measure—and I have been so "It seems to me the point as to this measure—and I have been so impressed for several years—is that the time has arrived when we should impressed for several years—is that the time has arrived when we should shut the door. We have been called the melting pot of the world. We had shut the door. We have been called the melting pot of the world. We had an experience just a few years ago, during the great World War, when it an experience just a few years ago, during the great World War, when it looked as though we had allowed influences to enter our borders that looked as though we had allowed influences to enter our borders that were about to melt the pot in place of us being the melting pot." were about to melt the pot in place of us being the melting pot."

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Chinese ImmigrationChinese Immigration The earliest Asian immigrants to the United States were The earliest Asian immigrants to the United States were

typically Chinese and, in the beginning, they were welcomed typically Chinese and, in the beginning, they were welcomed into the country. into the country.

In 1865, the Central Pacific Railroad recruited thousands of In 1865, the Central Pacific Railroad recruited thousands of Chinese immigrants to work on the construction of the Chinese immigrants to work on the construction of the transcontinental railroad and in 1868 the Burlingame Treaty was transcontinental railroad and in 1868 the Burlingame Treaty was ratified to ease Chinese immigration to the United States. ratified to ease Chinese immigration to the United States.

However, as soon as, and even before, inroads were made for However, as soon as, and even before, inroads were made for Asian immigration, setbacks began to be put in place. Asian immigration, setbacks began to be put in place.

Following the onslaught of Chinese immigration due to the Following the onslaught of Chinese immigration due to the California Gold Rush, the Asian immigrants came to be on the California Gold Rush, the Asian immigrants came to be on the receiving end of multiple restrictive laws and violence. receiving end of multiple restrictive laws and violence.

By the end of the 19th Century, the Chinese and eventually all By the end of the 19th Century, the Chinese and eventually all Asians, were excluded from American citizenship.Asians, were excluded from American citizenship.

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The Burlingame The Burlingame Treaty was designed Treaty was designed to facilitate Chinese to facilitate Chinese immigration. immigration.

The excerpt below The excerpt below explains that the explains that the treaty was constructed treaty was constructed to ensure equal rights to ensure equal rights and privileges for and privileges for Chinese immigrants.Chinese immigrants.

"The United States of America and the Emperor of "The United States of America and the Emperor of China cordially recognize the inherent and inalienable China cordially recognize the inherent and inalienable right of man to change his home and allegiance, and right of man to change his home and allegiance, and also the mutual advantage of the free migration and also the mutual advantage of the free migration and emigration of their citizens and subjects respectively emigration of their citizens and subjects respectively from the one country to the other, for purposes of from the one country to the other, for purposes of curiosity, of trade, or ascuriosity, of trade, or as permanent residents."permanent residents."

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The text of the Foreign Miner's Tax or the The text of the Foreign Miner's Tax or the Act to Protect Free White Act to Protect Free White Labor Against Competition with Chinese Coolie Labor, and to Labor Against Competition with Chinese Coolie Labor, and to Discourage the Immigration of the Chinese into the State of Discourage the Immigration of the Chinese into the State of CaliforniaCalifornia is provided below to serve as an example of anti-Chinese is provided below to serve as an example of anti-Chinese legislation on the state level. legislation on the state level.

The Act is specifically designed to discourage employment of The Act is specifically designed to discourage employment of Chinese laborers by imposing crippling taxes upon them. Chinese laborers by imposing crippling taxes upon them.

SECTION 1. There is hereby levied on each person, male and female, of the SECTION 1. There is hereby levied on each person, male and female, of the Mongolian race, of the age of eighteen years and upwards, residing in this State, Mongolian race, of the age of eighteen years and upwards, residing in this State, except such as shall, under laws now existing, or which may hereafter be except such as shall, under laws now existing, or which may hereafter be enacted, take out licenses to work in the mines, or to prosecute some kind of enacted, take out licenses to work in the mines, or to prosecute some kind of business, a monthly capitation tax of two dollars and fifty cents, which tax shall be business, a monthly capitation tax of two dollars and fifty cents, which tax shall be known as the Chinese Police Tax; known as the Chinese Police Tax;

The Chinese Exclusion Act is direct legislation designed to keep all The Chinese Exclusion Act is direct legislation designed to keep all Chinese immigrants from entering the state of California, setting Chinese immigrants from entering the state of California, setting restrictions on citizenship, employment, and travel.restrictions on citizenship, employment, and travel.

SEC. 14. That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit SEC. 14. That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese citizenship; and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.Chinese citizenship; and all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

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Jewish Immigration Jewish Immigration Although there was a Jewish Although there was a Jewish

population in the United States prior population in the United States prior to the 19th century, primarily from to the 19th century, primarily from Brazil, a new group of Jewish Brazil, a new group of Jewish immigrants came from the newly immigrants came from the newly integrated German State. integrated German State.

Driven to emigration because of land Driven to emigration because of land shortages, poverty, and shortages, poverty, and governmental restrictions on governmental restrictions on marriage, employment, and marriage, employment, and residence, the majority of German residence, the majority of German Jews immigrated to the United States Jews immigrated to the United States following the Revolution in 1848 following the Revolution in 1848

At the onset of the 20th Century, At the onset of the 20th Century, Jews fleeing the extreme persecution Jews fleeing the extreme persecution in Poland and Russia came to the in Poland and Russia came to the United States in very large numbers; United States in very large numbers; they were also restricted by the they were also restricted by the government on where they could live government on where they could live and how they could earn their living. and how they could earn their living.

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By the end of the 1800's By the end of the 1800's most immigrants were most immigrants were pouring through Ellis Island, pouring through Ellis Island, passing the Statue of passing the Statue of Liberty emblazoned with Liberty emblazoned with The New ColossusThe New Colossus, a poem , a poem written by a Jewish woman, written by a Jewish woman, Emma Lazarus. Emma Lazarus.

The persecution of Jews in The persecution of Jews in America was not as America was not as systemic as in Europe and systemic as in Europe and restrictions on Jewish restrictions on Jewish Immigration came along Immigration came along with restrictions placed on with restrictions placed on Eastern European Eastern European immigration in general immigration in general

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Immigrant Experience: Immigrant Experience: Ethnic CommunitiesEthnic Communities

The United States was essentially flooded with immigrants The United States was essentially flooded with immigrants at the end of the 19th century. at the end of the 19th century.

Many of these men, women, and children had never been Many of these men, women, and children had never been to America before, were unaccustomed to the traditions, to America before, were unaccustomed to the traditions, and knew relatively no one in their mythical adopted home. and knew relatively no one in their mythical adopted home.

For this reason, they tended to gravitate towards others For this reason, they tended to gravitate towards others from the same country or region.from the same country or region.

A contemporary, albeit fictional, account of immigrants A contemporary, albeit fictional, account of immigrants looking for and forming expatriate communities in America looking for and forming expatriate communities in America is found in the excerpt from Chapter Two of Upton is found in the excerpt from Chapter Two of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle."Sinclair's "The Jungle."

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EugenicsEugenics The study of Eugenics is one of the more prominent theories of The study of Eugenics is one of the more prominent theories of

scientific racism popularized in the early 1900's. scientific racism popularized in the early 1900's. Eugenicists believed that heredity determined almost all of a Eugenicists believed that heredity determined almost all of a

person's capacities and that genetic inferiority predisposed people person's capacities and that genetic inferiority predisposed people to crime and poverty. to crime and poverty.

Eugenics was promoted by the ideas of Social Darwinism and was Eugenics was promoted by the ideas of Social Darwinism and was used to justify changes to immigration law in the United States. used to justify changes to immigration law in the United States.

Raymond Pearl was originally an advocate of Eugenics and in 1908 Raymond Pearl was originally an advocate of Eugenics and in 1908 he published he published Breeding Better MenBreeding Better Men an article in defense of the an article in defense of the ideology. ideology.

The article applies the theories of selective agricultural breeding to The article applies the theories of selective agricultural breeding to human breeding while explaining how this process would benefit human breeding while explaining how this process would benefit society as a whole society as a whole

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Also, in the 1927 ruling of Also, in the 1927 ruling of Buck v Bell the United Buck v Bell the United States Supreme Court States Supreme Court upheld a statute the upheld a statute the required sterilization of the required sterilization of the mentally retarded "for the mentally retarded "for the protection and health of the protection and health of the state." state."

The ruling was seen as The ruling was seen as governmental endorsement governmental endorsement of Eugenics. of Eugenics.

Justice Holmes wrote the Justice Holmes wrote the opinion of the court in which opinion of the court in which he claims that the he claims that the responsibility of the state to responsibility of the state to the public is to maintain a the public is to maintain a clean gene pool and that clean gene pool and that outweighs its responsibility outweighs its responsibility to "feeble minded" to "feeble minded" individuals.individuals.

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Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Social Darwinism is a form of Social Darwinism is a form of scientific racism, in reality a pseudo-scientific racism, in reality a pseudo-science, which claims that Darwin's science, which claims that Darwin's theory of evolution and natural theory of evolution and natural selection in biology can also be selection in biology can also be applied to the competition between applied to the competition between social groups. social groups.

It implies that variations between It implies that variations between ethnic or racial groups determine their ethnic or racial groups determine their ability to be rank socially, that some ability to be rank socially, that some are inherently inferior to others and are inherently inferior to others and should be left to die out as a result of should be left to die out as a result of their own incompetence. their own incompetence.

The theory gave a "scientific" or The theory gave a "scientific" or educated justification for racism and educated justification for racism and could be, to some extent, used to could be, to some extent, used to support the field of Eugenics. support the field of Eugenics.

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In Herbert Spencer's In Herbert Spencer's ProgressProgress, , he draws the parallel between he draws the parallel between the organic process of the organic process of biological development and the biological development and the organic quality of all processes organic quality of all processes in society. in society.

Spencer's ideology was Spencer's ideology was popular through the end of popular through the end of World War Two, although the World War Two, although the term was not "coined" until term was not "coined" until Richard Hofstadter published Richard Hofstadter published Social Darwinism in American Social Darwinism in American ThoughtThought in 1944. in 1944.

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Dr. Joseph DeJarnetteDr. Joseph DeJarnette Dr. DeJarnette was an extremely vocal Dr. DeJarnette was an extremely vocal

believer in Eugenics and, as director of believer in Eugenics and, as director of Virginia's Western State Mental Virginia's Western State Mental Hospital in the early 1900's he instituted Hospital in the early 1900's he instituted the compulsory sterilization of mental the compulsory sterilization of mental patients. patients.

He believed that to protect the whole of He believed that to protect the whole of society the imperfect genes should be society the imperfect genes should be weeded out through selective breeding. weeded out through selective breeding.

Dr. DeJarnette wrote the poem Dr. DeJarnette wrote the poem Mendel's Law: A Plea for a Better Race Mendel's Law: A Plea for a Better Race of Menof Men in support of his beliefs. It in support of his beliefs. It explains how breeding helps other explains how breeding helps other species and it should help humans as species and it should help humans as well. well.

Scientifically, Mendel's Laws refer to Scientifically, Mendel's Laws refer to the laws of genetics, as they apply to the laws of genetics, as they apply to hereditary traits; DeJarnette used the hereditary traits; DeJarnette used the name to gain a degree of scientific name to gain a degree of scientific relevance.relevance.

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Social GospelSocial Gospel

In searching for a solution to social ills brought on by the newly In searching for a solution to social ills brought on by the newly industrialized society in the United States, a Protestant Christian industrialized society in the United States, a Protestant Christian movement was born. movement was born.

The Social Gospel movement used Christian principles for the The Social Gospel movement used Christian principles for the resolution of urban problems and although it was not a unified resolution of urban problems and although it was not a unified movement, religious leaders from many faiths were considered a movement, religious leaders from many faiths were considered a part of the movement. part of the movement.

Also, the Social Gospel was other side of the social application of Also, the Social Gospel was other side of the social application of Darwinism. Darwinism.

Whereas Social Darwinism tended to focus on eliminating the Whereas Social Darwinism tended to focus on eliminating the undesirables from the gene pool, followers of the Social Gospel undesirables from the gene pool, followers of the Social Gospel believed that certain groups necessitated help because of their believed that certain groups necessitated help because of their inherent deficiencies.inherent deficiencies.

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In 1907, Walter In 1907, Walter Rauschenbusch published Rauschenbusch published "Christianity and the "Christianity and the Social Crisis", a book Social Crisis", a book related to the principles of related to the principles of the Social Gospel, in the Social Gospel, in which he argues that sin which he argues that sin should not only be applied should not only be applied to individuals, but to to individuals, but to society in general. society in general.

Rauschenbusch claimed Rauschenbusch claimed that if society could sin, that if society could sin, then it is possible to fight then it is possible to fight that sin through a Social that sin through a Social Gospel.Gospel.

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In His StepsIn His Steps In His StepsIn His Steps, a book published by Charles M. , a book published by Charles M.

Sheldon in 1897, was for a long time one of the Sheldon in 1897, was for a long time one of the most popular and influential books in the Social most popular and influential books in the Social Gospel movement. Gospel movement.

According to Sheldon, American society would According to Sheldon, American society would experience a dramatic transformation if only experience a dramatic transformation if only people would base their public and private people would base their public and private actions on the answer to the simple question of actions on the answer to the simple question of "What Would Jesus Do?""What Would Jesus Do?"

"He rose at last with the awe of one who has looked "He rose at last with the awe of one who has looked at heavenly things. He felt the human forces and the at heavenly things. He felt the human forces and the human sins of the world as never before. And with a human sins of the world as never before. And with a hope that walks hand in hand with faith and love hope that walks hand in hand with faith and love Henry Maxwell, disciple of Jesus, laid him down to Henry Maxwell, disciple of Jesus, laid him down to sleep and dreamed of the regeneration of sleep and dreamed of the regeneration of Christendom, and saw in his dream a church of Christendom, and saw in his dream a church of Jesus without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, Jesus without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, following him all the way, walking obediently in His following him all the way, walking obediently in His steps." steps."