American Literature Project Immigrant Experience

1. American Literature ProjectImmigrant Experience By: AJ.Etheridge

2. What was the experience • For some immigrants the experience wasn’t all that great but for others it was natural for example Alex Woodle was an descendant of an immigrant who was actually his great grandfather who name is David who came to America from bohemia in the mid 19th century in hopes of finding out more about his great grandfather he later finds out more about him than imagined.

3. When did experience • Immigration started in the early 1900s when people in other countries felt they wanted more freedom. By migrating to the United States they were given that freedom they were looking for

4. Who was involved in this experience • The first people who was apart of the immigrant experience was actually multiple sets up people like the Polynesia, South Asia and also Europe here are some historic events that happened during this time. • Naturalization Act of 1790: Stipulated that "any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States" • 1875: Supreme Court declared that regulation of US immigration is the responsibility of the Federal Government. • 1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act:Prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States. • 1885 and 1887: Alien Contract Labor laws which prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States. • 1891: The Federal Government assumed the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S.

5. What events led to this experience • Immigration started when the first human being came to North America supposedly from Asia. There is no such thing as a Native American. What we refer to as Native Americans were really only the first immigrants to reach this land. For the question of why did Hispanics and Asians start coming here is the same reason the Europeans came here. To start a new life and make some money. Even though the Blacks were brought here in slavery, many millions more now are trying to get here for the same reasons to earlier immigrants did. For those hateful people who cry about how this land was stolen or whatever, I'd like to know from who and to prove you're really concerned about the problem, you can just give the land you own back to the origional owners and go live somewhere else, but not here in North America because you're not a Native American. And if you're Native American you should also leave and go back to Asia. As you can see it's really pretty stupid to tell everyone to go back to where their ancestors came from. Of course I'm sure the wildlife in North America would like it.

6. What factors were involved in this experience • “The Declaration of Independence, announcing the separation of the colonies from Great Britain, and establishing themselves at the United States, is considered the most important of all American documents, and a national symbol of liberty. Thomas Jefferson drafted the document between June 11 - June 28, 1776. His unparalleled expression of "self-evident truths" conveyed the convictions of the American people for individual liberty and enumerated their grievances against the King to justify their breaking from the mother country.” (US Immigration History)

7. What effect did this experience have on America • Immigration had a real big effect on America because it actually helps well at least that’s what some people think others have different opinions they feel as if immigrants threaten their job security but most people feel as if they are really helpful to our economy.

8. Citations • http://www.ellisisland.org/immexp/wseix_3_5.asp? • http://www.rapidimmigration.com/1_eng_immigration_history.html • http://borderbattles.ssrc.org/Hirschman/