Lecture 20: Immigration

Colin Aitken January 18, 2012

Terms:Immigration, Cultural Pluralism, Melting Pot, Assimilation 1. Introduction: Industrialization, immigration major forces Will look at major immigration policies Previously: Open Door Policy - changes during progressive area Closed Door Policy (restriction on immigrating) 2. Historical Perspectives: (a) Thomas Paine People were looking for a fresh start (b) Herman Melville Freedom, not tyranny (c) Emerson Swedes, poles, Africans, Polynesians will create a new race, smelting pot (d) Washington Welcoming oppressed, one people out of many (e) John Q. Adams immigrants must cast o European skins, become american (f) deTocqueville A society without prejudices, memories, national character, yet happier than our own (France) All of our society is derived from British things, drives push for Americanizing 3. Trends (a) World, 1820 - 1930 Millions around the world moving, welcomed to U.S. (b) United States

i. 1820 - 1880: Old Refers to people pre-1880, most of whom were Anglo-Saxon from England, Germany, and Scandinavia Primarily from NorthWest Europe, shared similar features with the Americans already there Many were British, no language barrier, many were succesful farmers or laborers Easily adapted to American culture WASPs - a standard we want later immigrants to conform to Stereotype: German (serious, hardworking, sturdy until 1880, later seen as socialists, etc.). A few joined Republican Party Irish (Dirty, Catholic, drunk) became Americas rst proletariat who could not aord land Mostly democrats, fed into view of political machines. Most reform movements were led by nativists against irish A. Xenophobia Dubois: More discrimination against Irish than against blacks Star-Spangled Banner order runs as Nativist Anti-Immigrant Party Was found relatively easy to assimilate into American Culture Turner: Frontier promoted composite nationality