Who Said What About Immigrants?

Quote One

“America’s culture, customs, and language are under assault from foreigners who come

to live here and, instead of learning the American way of life, choose to impose their

own alien cultures, languages, and institutions upon us. . .”

“America’s culture, customs, and language are under assault from foreigners who come to live here and, instead of learning the American way

of life, choose to impose their own alien cultures, languages, and institutions upon us. . .”

(1) 1753, Editorial, Pennsylvania Legal Tract,

Benjamin Franklin, in reference to the Germans.

Quote Two

“These cheap slaves fill every place. Their dress is scant and cheap. They hedge twenty in a

room, ten by ten. They are. . .mean, contemptible. . .They have no wives, children or

dependents. They are in every place. . . .Boys work, girls work; it is all alike to them.”

“These cheap slaves fill every place. Their dress is scant and cheap. They hedge twenty in a

room, ten by ten. They are. . .mean, contemptible. . .They have no wives, children or

dependents. They are in every place. . . .Boys work, girls work; it is all alike to them.”

(2) 1847, Editorial, Chicago Post, in reference to the Italians.

Quote Three

“There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something

else also, isn’t an American at all. . .We have room for but one flag, the American flag. . .We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. . .and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the

American people.”

“There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something

else also, isn’t an American at all. . .We have room for but one flag, the American flag. . .We have

room for but one language here, and that is the English language. . .and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American

people.”

(3) 1915, Address to Knights of Columbus,President Theodore Roosevelt, in reference to the

immigrants from southern Europe

Quote Four

“The _____ fill our prisons. Scratch a convict or a pauper and chances are that

you tickle the skin of a __________. Putting them on a boat and sending them home

would end crime in this country”

“The _____ fill our prisons. Scratch a convict or a pauper and chances are that you tickle the skin of a __________. Putting

them on a boat and sending them home would end crime in this country”

(4) 1878, Editorial, Indianapolis Times,

in reference to the Irish

Quote Five

“The laws should be rigidly enforced which prohibit the immigration of a ______ class to

compete with American labor, with no intention of acquiring citizenship, and

bringing with them and retaining habits and customs repugnant to our civilization.”

“The laws should be rigidly enforced which prohibit the immigration of a ______ class to

compete with American labor, with no intention of acquiring citizenship, and

bringing with them and retaining habits and customs repugnant to our civilization.”

(5) 1885, March 4 Inaugural Address,President Grover Cleveland, in reference to

all immigrants.

Quote Six

"We have become the world's melting pot. The scum of creation has been dumped on us. Some

of our principal cities are more foreign than American. The most dangerous and corrupting hordes of the ______ have invaded us.... The

manufacturers are mainly to blame. They wanted cheap labor; and they [don’t] care how

much harm to our future might be the consequence of their heartless policy.“

"We have become the world's melting pot. The scum of creation has been dumped on us. Some of our principal cities are more

foreign than American. The most dangerous and corrupting hordes of the ______ have invaded us.... The manufacturers are

mainly to blame. They wanted cheap labor; and they [don’t] care how much harm to our future might be the consequence of their

heartless policy.“

(6) 1924, Campaign Trail, Presidential Candidate, Thomas E. Watson, in reference to the Jewish of eastern Europe

Quote Seven

“Confronted with the requirement . . . .that __________ immigrants carry an identity

card proving they were in the country legally or face deportation, thousands

refused to submit to what they called the ‘___________ Law’ thus undertaking one

of “perhaps the largest acts of civil disobedience in the United States.”

“Confronted with the requirement . . . .that __________ immigrants carry an identity card

proving they were in the country legally or face deportation, thousands refused to submit. . . thus

undertaking one of “perhaps the largest acts of civil disobedience in the United States.”

(7) 1896, DRIVEN OUT: THE FORGOTTEN WAR AGAINST CHINESE AMERICANS

by Jean Pfaeizer

Quote Eight

“The old employments by which we have heretofore gained our livelihood, are gradually, and it may seem inevitably, passing into other

hands. Every hour sees the ________ elbowed out of employment by some newly arrived immigrant

whose hunger and whose color are thought to give him a better title to the place."

“The old employments by which we have heretofore gained our livelihood, are gradually, and it may seem inevitably, passing into other hands. Every hour sees the ________ elbowed out of employment by some newly arrived immigrant whose hunger and whose

color are thought to give him a better title to the place."

(8) 1853, Letter, Frederick Douglas, in reference to the Germans

One Last Quote

“Few of their children know English. Nor do they wish to. . .ads, street signs, and even legal documents are in

their own language. . .unless the stream of these people can be turned away from this country to other countries, they will soon outnumber us so that we will not be able to save our language or our government.”

“Few of their children know English. Nor do they wish to. . .ads, street signs, and even legal documents are in

their own language. . .unless the stream of these people can be turned away from this country to other countries, they will soon outnumber us so that we will not be able to save our language or our government.”

1753, Editorial, Pennsylvania Legal Tract, Benjamin Franklin, in reference to the Germans