Source: elec-in trom
Because the United States has traditionally been the "Land of Opportunity" it continues to lead the world in the number of immigrants each year. Despite recent economic downturns, it is still considered to be a nation where religious and social freedoms along with economic opportunity are ranked highest in the world.
The inscription on the Statue of Liberty says:
"Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
However, a glance back in history reveals that humanitarian reasons may not have always been foremost in our forefathers minds concerning immigration.
In the period of history before the American Revolution, immigrants that could weather hardship, hunger and disease long enough to make the long, arduous journey were welcomed through the Golden Door. They entered free of restrictions, other than that of being deemed a public criminal. Early Colonists, new to the land themselves, were not anxious to rehabilitate any maladjusted citizens. Unregulated immigration was tolerated for some time because people were needed to help build up the labor force of a new nation. It was during this period in history that the slave trade was to begin with the importing of Africans against their will to the colonies.
"Give me your tired Your Poor, Your huddled masses yearning to be free."
Old and New Immigrants
Historians have long debated who the first Americans were with theories ranging from wanderers from North East Asia,of whom fathered what we today consider Native Americans, to settlers from Polynesia, South Asia, Europe. The continental structure of the earth is thought to have been different with crossings possible that would not be so today without modern transportation. However we do know that about the year 1000 a number of Vikings appeared that would proceed a great European migration 500 years later.
The first colonists from Europe came so with the notion of creating a nation of free and independent people, free from unfair taxes and religious restrictions. The term Pilgrim was applied to these early colonist, as their voyage was considered a Pilgrimage. Later on, the Great Migration populated New England with 21,000 immigrants from Northern Europe during the mid 17th century (1630-40). These immigrants had the same Anglo-Saxon roots as the early colonists
The Federal Government's power to regulate immigration was unclear in early America. As the rate and ethnicity of immigrants changed so did the attitudes of the Colonists change toward unrestricted immigration. In 1751 Benjamin Franklin expressed concern over the number of immigrants from Germany stating that "This Pennsylvania will in a few years become a German colony; instead of {their} learning our language, we must learn theirs, or live in a foreign country."
After the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, America entered an Open Door era. Immigrates that stayed for 5 years and renounced all former allegiances were granted citizenship through the Naturalization Act of 1795. The Immigration Boom began. Ellis Island would welcome immigrants on the East coast and Angel Island would welcome them on the west. After the War of 1812, travel across the sea without fear became possible again. Ten million immigrants, mostly British, Irish and German entered the U.S. The states began a regulation era for immigrants. Laws were passed to teach English to school Children.
Failed revolutions in Europe caused massive immigration to begin. Treaties that ended the Mexican-American war gave Mexicans permission to remain in those territories.They were seriously discriminated against but became important to the workforce.
Chinese immigration began after the California Gold Rush. Much unrest arose as Californians began to resent the Chinese being given jobs that they felt should belong to them. Police would look for reasons to arrest them and have them deported. However, many capitalists and entrepreneurs wanted them to be left alone. They were considered to be good for the economy. In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, barring Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. for 10 years. It was not repealed until 1943.
Many immigrants felt more secure by starting their own communities to live in.
Source: www.morguefile.com/creative/curtinparloe - CC BY:ND http://www.UJUGCx via morguefile
The Melting Pot
By the early twentieth century immigrants were coming to America from different parts of the world including Italy, Austria-Hungry, Poland and Russia. As time passed immigration regulations grew and changed. Literacy tests were required, and various laws were enacted to restrict the number of immigrants allowed. Any immigrant who preached sabotage or revolution was deported. America was nick-named the Melting Pot Nation.
Early on life was difficult for immigrates. Mostly non-English speaking, they depended on family and immigration communities for support. They huddled together in tenements in the larger cities, living in undesirable conditions. Employers designed ways for assisting immigrants to become productive through classes for speaking English, thriftiness and cleanliness and other traits they felt were important to help them achieve assimilation. Educators used the public schools to educate the children and draw them into the American culture through the teaching of English and American History. The children went home with "new ideas" and a clash of generations evolved. The children wanted to be Americanized and leave the ways of the old country behind. Calling their elders names like "Green Horns," they embraced the American culture through the theater, music and sports. First generation immigrates fought to hang on to the old ways. This trend would would grow and become an American immigrate phenomenon. But immigrants held high hopes for the success of their children.They would go to school and college to become doctors, teachers and successful entrepreneurs-and many did.
A blending of cultures
The Salad Bowl
After 1970, a multiculturalism trend began to emerge that would encourage those who had international backgrounds in America to embrace their cultural differences and show pride in their roots. This included African-Americans as well, even though they had been in America for three centuries. They were encouraged to celebrate their African roots through dress, dance and drums. Survivors of the Holocaust were sought out for personal interviews. Americans were encouraged to say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas. The Irish, the Germans, the Italians-all were encouraged to share and celebrate their unique cultural differences. The term melting pot was changed to salad bowl to reflect that immigrates from second and third generations would retain their heritage and resemble pieces in a mixed salad. Music, art and education reflected this movement to preserve heritage.
God Bless America
Tomato Soup
Would the tragedy of the September 11, 2001 terrorists affect attitudes of Americans toward immigration? A noteworthy 2004 survey by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Foundation and Harvard Kennedy School of Government indicated a trend toward Americans being less negative about immigrates than in the past, but at the same time reflecting conflict. While American citizens felt that immigrants contributed to American society with their diverse cultures, they also felt that assimilation was important. They felt that the constantly changing face of America was a positive force for the nation, but at the same time, unity in a common core was needed.
Samuel Huntington, author of Who Are We: The Challenges To American National Identity voices concerns that America is on the road to becoming a bilingual/bi-cultural country much like Canada, Belgium and Switzerland. He fears that our 'core culture' is under threat by Mexico because so many speak English and the proximity of their nation to the U.S.makes it easy for them to enter the States.
Huntington defines core culture as those values left to America by Anglo-Saxon settlers. He maintains that settlers were not immigrants but rather the Founding Fathers of the Nation. Huntington agrees that immigrants should continue to be an important part of the continuing growth of our Nation. However, he believes that American culture should be like a basic tomato soup with immigrants adding spices to the soup.
Surveys of Chinese, Vietnamese and Mexican immigrants in this same study reflect the same trends of earlier immigrates in America. Many came here with the hopes to return to their home land. But they realize that to earn a living and save money it is important to assimilate and learn the language. They want their children to have opportunities to be successful in America. They know that assimilation is necessary. At the same time, they desire to preserve the culture of their homeland. Passing on traditions and values are important for them. It is their heartfelt desire to keep the culture alive in the generations of family members that follow.
There is no doubt that immigration laws will continue to change through the years as the Administrators of the Nation change. Like Benjamin Franklin, citizens will continue to fear the loss of the language and the culture to others. But one only needs to look at the names and the profiles of those that perished in the 9/11 attacks to see that diversity in America lends us talents from a variety of cultures, as it has from the first time immigrants succeeded in becoming a part of the America, the Land of Opportunity.
(Source: rapidimmigration.com, hubpages.com)
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