Chap 15 Sec 1Chap 15 Sec 1

Stages of Immigration

Immigration Laws

First of all, you need to have read the book. If you don’t you are toast.

Why did so many immigrants come to America ?

• The promise of a better life.• Famine (Ireland)• War or Political Crisis (Germany)• Shortages of land (Europe)• Religious persecution (Pogroms in Russia)• Lack of jobs

• 1. Anglo Conformity

• 2. Melting Pot

• 3. Cultural Pluralism

• The idea that our mostly Anglo-Saxon or British ancestors molded a fixed, homogeneous (unchanging) American Culture.

• Rooted in: – The English Language

– English Social Patterns

– English political institutions

• In order to Americanize, immigrants must give up their In order to Americanize, immigrants must give up their former ways and CONFORM to Anglo-Americanformer ways and CONFORM to Anglo-American ways.

PART ONE

• 1607-1680 Predominantly English

• 1680’s– Puritans, Dutch Swedes,

Irish, Scots, Sephardic Jews (Spanish)

PART TWO: 1680-1770

 

  1. After 1680 British policies restricted immigration.

• 2.  Africans now increasingly imported as slaves to replace white indentured servants.

• 3. English dissenters arrive. (English and Welsh Quakers)

• 4. 1680-1710: Palatine Germans (Pennsylvania Dutch)

• 5. 1699-1704: Scotch Irish (Ulstermen)

• 6. 1685: French Huguenots

• 7. 1750-1770: Scottish Highlanders

• Surnames- Head of the Family

60% English

14% Scots or Scotch Irish

9% German

4% Catholic Irish

13% Other

• The Idea that ALL immigrants have contributed to America to create a Homogeneous, but CONSTANTLY CHANGING American culture.

• Made popular by the 1914 play “Melting Pot”.

• “New Immigrants” appreciated this because it gave them credit for their recent contributions to America.

• The idea that immigrants must learn certain necessary aspects of American culture but...

• …they may preserve their distinct differences.

• American culture consist of a homogeneous center…• The English language.• Political ideals.• Economic institutions.

• …But has heterogeneous ethnic patterns, especially in social and intellectual life.

American Culture American Culture according toaccording to CULTURAL PLURALISM CULTURAL PLURALISM

Great, “Stages of Immigration”, We’re all smart now. But it’s not so much that they came here is it? Isn’t America the Story of how we treated them when they got here?

• Most Americans can tell you where their ancestors came from but in the next breath they will complain about immigrants today.

 • Americans are proud of their history of allowing

immigration but for as long as their has been immigration their has been opposition to it.

 

• 1790- Naturalization is allowed to “free white persons” This requirement exists until 1952 even though it was not enforced.

 • 1798- Alien and Sedition Acts-

The residency requirement for becoming a U.S. citizen is raised to 14 years in order to decrease the political power of immigrants.

Other than this, for the first 100 years of our country there are few restrictions on immigration.

• 1882- Chinese Exclusion Act - immigration by Chinese laborers is banned for ten years. The ban was extended and eventually made

permanent in 1902.– -The first restriction based upon a specific RACE.

• 1890’s- A list of “undesirables” will no be allowed to immigrate

includes, polygamists, people with loathsome or contagious diseases, and those convicted of crimes of moral turpitude.

• 1906- The ability to speak and understand English is required for naturalization and Japanese immigration is limited by the Gentleman’s agreement.

 

• 1917- Literacy requirement for immigration- immigrants must be able to speak and read at lest 40 words in some language in order to enter the US

• 1921- The National Quota System is created3% of each nationality in the 1910 census will be

allowed to enter.Favors W. and N. European nations and virtually

eliminates immigration from Asia • 1924- The Johnson Read Act- tries to preserve America’s “racial”

composition.-even more discriminatory than 1921-virtually eliminates Japanese immigration

• 1940’s- minor changes that mostly effect the number of Chinese that enter the US.

A CHANGE OCCURS HERE!!!!

Instead of race being the key the topic of restrictions, political ideology is. Early race restriction begin to ease.

• 1950 Internal Security Act-– Denies admission to anyone who would endanger the welfare or safety of the United States.

Immigrants who join or participate in Communist party activities are deported.

 • 1952- McCarran- Walter Act-

-Immigration restrictions are broadened for many nationalities left out before. Begins a trend towards easing immigration restrictions.

  1965- The US eliminates racial criteria from immigration laws and gives each country a annual quota of 20,000 per year. Western Hemisphere countries have no quotas.

 

• 1976- Congress eliminates the quota exemption for W. Hemisphere nations.

 • 1980’s- Penalties are now imposed upon employers who employ

illegal aliens.

 

• 1990’s- The legal limit for immigrants is raised to 700,000 annually. Illegal immigrants are no longer eligible for most government benefits.

• Immigration laws are constantly changing due to economic and social conditions.