340 likes | 349 Views
Explore the geographic origins of European immigration to the United States and understand the motivations and justifications of Nativist groups throughout American history. Learn about old and new immigrants, common themes in Nativist positions, and the evolution of immigration laws.
E N D
Immigration • The American Dream? Task one: Discover the geographic origins of European immigration to the United States. Task two: To understand the justifications and motives of the Nativists groups throughout United States history
“Old Immigrants”: those who came from Northern/Western Europe before 1900. • “New Immigrants”: those who came from Eastern/Southern Europe from 1890-1920s.
“New Immigrant” • Study the map and consider what countries are considered part of the “New immigrant” group
What specific countries would not be included in the “New Immigrant” description? • Germany • Italy • Ireland • Great Britain
Which of the following observations about annual immigration are true? Immigration increases during America’s hard economic times Immigration decreases during America’s hard economic times People continued to come to America to escape persecution in their own countries Immigration increased dramatically during WWI Quotas limit the number of immigrants
NATIVISM Definition: A defense of native-born people and a hostility to the foreign-born. • Task: What are the common themes in the Nativist position regardless of time/group?
Who said this? “[The immigrants] who come [to America] are generally of the most ignorant and stupid sort of their own nation…Their own clergy have very little influence over the people…Not being used to liberty, they know not how to make a modest use of it…they are not esteemed men till they have shown their manhood by beating their mothers…now they come in droves…few of their children in the country learn English. Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a colony of aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us insteade of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion…Which leads me to add one more Remark: That the Number of purely white People in the World is proportionably very small…”
He was writing in 1753 about German immigrants to America Before the Revolutionary War he grumbled about bilingual street signs and translators in state government The big question, should German or English be the national language? Benjamin Franklin Answer:
Cartoon Interpretation: Is this a pro or anti Nativist cartoon? Pro Anti
Cartoon Interpretation: Is this a pro or anti Nativist cartoon? Pro Anti
Nativists Groups • Know-Nothing Party • Limits on immigration from Catholic countries • Restricting political office to native-born Americans • Require a wait of 21 years before immigrant could gain citizenship • Restrict public school teaching to Protestants • Daily Bible readings in public schools-from the Protestant version of the Bible • American Protective Association • Openly discriminatory against Roman Catholics • Social Darwinists, who viewed the new immigrants as biologically inferior to English and Germanic stocks. • Depression of 1893-foreigners as scapegoats
1887: Immigration Restriction League • Immigrants should be screened, through literacy tests and other standards to separate the desirable from undesirable immigrants. • “Must be able to read or write in English or in their own language before entering the U.S.”
The Chinese Exclusion Act 1882. • Chinese unskilled workers were forbidden to immigrate. • Skilled workers needed some proof from the Chinese government—difficult to get. • Chinese already in the U.S. could not become citizens.
Gentleman’s Agreement (1907):an informal agreement between Japan and the U.S. that resulted in Japan agreeing to stop any further Japanese immigration to the U.S.
Immigration Laws • 1917-Literacy Test • Requires all immigrants to read or write English before granted entry into U.S. • Proves INEFFECTIVE: between 1918-1921 of 1.5 million immigrants only 6,000 limited by literacy test • 1921-Emergency Immigration Act • Sets quota on immigrants • Limited annual immigration to 3% of people living in U.S. of that nationality.
Immigration Laws • 1952-McCarren-Walter Immigration and Nationality Act • Eliminates race as a limit to immigration and naturalization • Opens door to Asian immigration • Reaffirms national quota system • Establishes preferences for those with desired skills or with relatives in U.S. • 1965-Immigration Reform Act • Abolishes the national quota system • But places a limit on 20,000 on any one country outside of Western Hemisphere • Admits immigrants on first-come, first qualified basis: professional, skilled, unskilled • Preference system for relatives as well as for refugees and those with desired skills
Immigration Laws • 1990-Immigration Act • Raises overall limit on immigration • 450,000= to relatives of people already here • 140,000= to skilled workers • Modifies existing restrictions on • Communists • Sexual preference • Removes AIDS from list of diseases mandating exclusion. • 1994-Prop 187 • Requires by law: • Verify the immigration status of persons potential employees • Report persons to state & federal authorities • Deny those persons social services (health care, and education)
Play the video, and identify the use of sarcasm-Wait for it to load!
How does the video use sarcasm to present immigration? • The video presents immigration from a Native-American perspective. • The video uses sarcasm to mock Native-Americans. • The video uses sarcasm to show how European are superior to other groups • The video uses sarcasm to show how Native-American always overreact.
Summarize the Nativists • All of the following are themes shared by the Nativists groups EXCEPT. • Racism • Religion • Economic concerns • Gender discrimination End of the presentation. Click when done.
No!-Try again. German immigrants would be considered part of the “New Immigrant” group
No!-Try again. Irish immigrants would be considered part of the “New Immigrant” group
No!-Try again. Italian immigrants would be considered part of the “New Immigrant” group
YES. British immigrants are not considered part of the “New Immigrant” group. British immigrants would be immigrating to the United States in low numbers, and also they blend in with the existing cultural characteristics of most Americans
Yes! The video offers a view of immigration not often considered by white Americans.
Correct. Gender discrimination did not play a major role in the nativists ideas.