us immigration

US IMMIGRATIONHistorical context

US immigration has often been greatest duringtimes of rapid US economic growth, helpingagriculture, manufacturing, and service sectorsincrease output.

Created by Mr. Steve Hauprich for acceleration and remediation of US History students

Thesis Statement

While immigration patterns led US societyto greater cultural pluralism, patterns ofassimilation and acculturation were oftenimpeded (slowed) by forces of nativism,xenophobia, and ethnocentrism.

Early settlers from England came primarilyto farm the land and escape religious strife.

African and Caribbean people wereforced into labor, in horrific exploitationbased on greed, prejudice, and power.

…The resulting society in North Americawas one divided by ethnocentric viewsof culture…with Native American Indianstrying to defend their ways of life… as variousEuro-American groups developed new enterprises…built by new immigrant and slave labor.

Irish Immigrationin mid-1800’s wascontroversial dueto the immigrants’Catholic religionand alleged socialvices…i.e. drinking and fighting

A nativist group (anti-immigrant) the know nothings…were organized opposing new Catholic immigrantsfrom Ireland and Germany.

Due to concernsover problems ofsocial and culturalmixing…Catholicsbuilt many privateschools and colleges…attempting toavoid conflicts and tension withthe Protestantmajority in the US

…”pluralism”… was growing

The next great wave of Nativist reactionwas the yellow peril…leading to theinfamous 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act…immigration restrictions based onethnocentrism and racism .

American city neighborhoods knownas Chinatowns developed… separated cultural groups of immigrantsmaintaining traditional language and customs…pluralism… was growing

Xenophobia isFEAR of strangers…

Xenophobia was experienced by manyimmigrants when they arrived in US cities… and by nativist Americans when they venturedinto the new ethnic neighborhoods growing incities across the land.

As a result of growing distrust amonggroups of Americans…each new waveof immigration seemed to result inmore ethnic neighborhoods… However, there was

Melting pot assimilation occurringthrough intermarriage… and where neighborhood boundaries were less distinct.

Acculturation is learningand adapting to the predominant culturein a given society…in the USA this means… the English language, English measurements, seatbelt laws, helmet laws, driving on the right,American Football, Church, school , police , riding buses, learning slang, etc…

US immigrants acculturatedprimarily through education andexperiences in the work place.

In 1925 the KKK staged the largestNativist demonstration in US History…the 1920’s saw new immigration restrictions …favoring WASP groups …over all others

The Sacco and Vanzetti Trial of the 1920’s wascriticized as unfair, due to nativistprejudices that characterized the decade.

Immigration restrictionsimposed in the 1920’s would notbe lifted until the 1960’s… when“ability”, rather than “national origin” …would determine immigration status.

Diversity has long existed in America……only in more recent history has it been fully appreciated…and immigration continues to flow.

___1. Which social practice has done the most to assimilate immigrants into American culture?

1 educating immigrant children in public schools2 housing immigrants in tenements

3 making low-cost medical care available4 forming ethnic neighborhoods in cities

___2. One similarity between the Know-Nothings and the Ku Klux Klan is that both

1 opposed the spread of communism2 exposed abuses in big business and government

3 believed the problems of society were caused by the growth of labor unions

4 fostered resentment against minority groups in American society

___3. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, most nativists feared continuedimmigration to the United States because they believed that immigrants would

1 become the dominant groups in colleges and universities2 lead anti-government protests

3 obtain the best farmland4 work for cheaper wages

___4. A primary aim of United States immigration policy in the 1920's was to

1 encourage immigration of well-educated and wealthy persons2 increase the number of immigrants from Asia and Latin America3 limit immigration from southern and eastern European nations

4 help solve the World War I refugee problem

___5. Which group in the United States presented the strongest opposition to unlimited immigration during the late 19th century?

1 steel-producing industrialists2 steamship company owners

3 recent immigrants4 organized labor

___6. The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Gentlemen's Agreement, and the  National Origins Act all show that at times the United States

1 opposed the principle of open immigration2 supported the restriction of immigration from western Europe

3 encouraged immigrants who would provide cheap labor4 favored immigration from all parts of the world

___7. The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Gentlemen's Agreement, and the National Origins Acts are all examples of

1 attempts to encourage scientists and intellectuals to settle in the United States2 efforts to end immigration from Latin America

3 discriminatory immigration policies of the United States4 programs to promote cultural diversity in the United States

___8. The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and the Gentlemen's Agreement with Japan(1907) are examples of

1 international humanitarian programs2 actions that reflected widespread nativist sentiment

3 successful negotiations to encourage trade4 United States attempts to stay out of foreign wars

"Between Halsted Street and the river live about ten thousand Italians.... To the south on Twelfth Street are many Germans,

and side streets are given over almost entirely to Polish  and Russian Jews. Still farther south, these Jewish colonies merge into a huge Bohemian colony.“

___9. Which term most accurately applies to the situation described by Jane Addams?

1 social mobility         3 cultural pluralism2 populism                 4 individualism

"Year of the Rat Celebrated in Chinatown""St. Patrick's Day Parade Draws a Crowd of 10,000"

"Martin Luther King Day Recognized in Schools Across the United States“

___10. Which characteristic of United States society is illustrated by these headlines?

1 nativism                  3 urbanization2 social mobility         4 cultural pluralism