Immigration In The 19th Century Essay

Throughout the history of the United States immigration has become apart of our country’s fabric which, began centuries ago. Only to become a hot topic in the US in recent years with its primary focus being illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration is when people enter a country without government permission. As of 2008 the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the US which is down from 2007‘s 12.5 million people. Although the Center for Immigration Studies estimates are very different from other estimates that range from 7 to 20 million. While the Pew Hispanic Center estimated in March of 2009 there are 11.1 million illegal immigrants and that number is from March 2007’s peak of 12

Between 1870 and the 1990s, over 11 million immigrants came to America in search of a better a life, coming from Southern and Eastern Europe such as Germany, France, Ireland, and immigrants from China as well. People came to America seeking sanctuary from their home land that did not allow them to be free, such as the Jewish people of Russia, who came to America because the Russian government was anti-Semitic. Jewish people were not allowed to have much property or security in Russia, simply because of their religion. In addition, the draft in Russia would take people away and force them to fight for 25 years, in wars that were pointless due to outdated weapons as well as the brutal discipline they were treated with when drafted. America was a place that allowed freedom of religion, something that was not common and many other countries, making America the ideal place to move and settle down, allowing immigrants to express their religion freely, without the consequences they faced back home. Immigrants also came to America in search of jobs that were scarce in Europe. Many small farmers were put out of jobs in Europe due to large scale mechanized

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many American nativist groups opposed free unrestricted immigration. Although racism is a main reason, there were many others. Economic, political, social and moral standards seemed to be threatened by these newcomers. The immigrants were unfamiliar of the language and customs that we take for granted in our everyday lives. The fear that gripped the nation was why people reacted so strongly against immigrants. The people feared change might distort the course of our prospering country. We did not want to become what those immigrants were fleeing.

Then in the second half of 1800s, precisely in 1850, the United States Census reviewed the "nativity" of citizens, both who were born in and outside the US, for the first time. During the next decade (1851–1860) another 2,598,214 immigrants arrived in the U.S. Still in that period in 1854, The Know-Nothings, a nativist political party that wanted to increase restrictions on immigration, especially the immigration from Catholic Ireland. The protestant Americans were afraid of growing Catholic immigration because they would be under control of the Pope. After in 1855, Castle Garden is inaugurated as New York's principal point of entry. In the next couple years, 1861 to 1870

Dating back to the colonial era the United States has always experienced immigration. From the pilgrims in the 1600’s to the first day Ellis Island opened in the late 1800’s to the Holocaust victims in the 1940’s to now. I believe the journey and success America has gained over time would not be possible without the many immigrants all over the world. They help the American economy thrive; despite how much they have to go through everyday illegal immigrants work and contribute to the United States.

In 1952, Immigration and Nationality Act started eliminating race as a requirement to immigration or citizenship. Japan's quota was 185 immigrants annually; China's stayed at 105; other Asian countries were given 100 each. Northern and Western Europe's quota was defined at 85% of all immigrants. However there were some restricts on British colonies' immigrants in order to avoid the tide of black West Indians entering under Britain's generous quota.

        Ever since the United States was founded, immigrants have been arriving on its soil.  The first white inhabitants of the U.S. were immigrants from Europe.  They came for many reasons, such as religion and opportunity.  As the country grew and became more prosperous, it became more enticing to foreigners looking for opportunity.  This continued into the 20th century and finally during the 1920’s, the United States began to restrict immigrants from coming to their country, mostly for cultural and economic reasons.  Even the immigrants that were allowed in during the 20’s faced many hardships such as religious persecution, racism, and xenia phobia.  One of the major groups of immigrants during that

Depression in Italy, pogroms in Europe, famine in China and drought in the Midwest were causes that sent million of immigrants to New York, Chicago and San Francisco. “Between 1977 and 1890, more than 6.3 million immigrants entered the United States”(609). Of the millions that came to the USA, 75 percent went to New York City.

In the 19th century, many immigrants came to America due to certain pull factors that brought them seeking for economic opportunities, live in freedom, and to make better lives for themselves and their families. Many of these opportunities are jobs and resources such as food as there was an abundance of all. These opportunities provide stability and a better life for the immigrants. Although the immigrants came seeking for jobs and a better life, life wasn’t perfect for them as they faced many situations along the way.

Before 1924, five and a half million foreigners came to Argentina four and a half

The 19th century was a new life of americans. Americans benefiting from the industry, this increased their wealth as a country. This wealth was used towards many things such as women, immigrants, the working class and children. Women could finally work in the industry which gave them more equality. Immigrants could finally work as well which gave them the chance to feed their family and help society. The working class could finally be paid enough money for certain jobs which gave them the desire to have better jobs. Children were given the chance to go to school and grow into the higher part of the working class. As of political activists, women, immigrants were finally given the chance to vote. Children would learn in school how their vote

As time went on and we got further into the 19th century, people's positive thoughts about immigrants became negative and harsh. At first, the Americans thought that immigrants could help with working jobs and filling up the unused lands but soon that all changed. People began to fear their "perfect American society" was being threatened by immigrants customs and beliefs. The fact that immigrants had their own religions, different genes, and new customs was alarming to people who had never seen things like this before. The Americans were so unpleased with these new people in the United States that they created groups and had nativist movements. Some of these movements include the Know-Nothing party, the Immigration Restriction League of

Since the discovery of the United States, the Western world has been built upon migrants coming to seek new opportunities for personal advancement. Preceding the first successful colonization of Chesapeake Bay by England and signing of the Declaration Of Independence in the dawn of the 19 century, the New World became just that: a land of innovation and liberation from oppressive forces beyond and within international borders. Conservatives have forgotten their almost identical roots as former immigrants from England just centuries ago.

The novel was published during the time of industrialization. The United States, a country shaped by agriculture in the 19th century, became an industrialized nation in the late 1800s. Moreover, "an unprecedented influx of immigrants contributed to a boom in population," created bigger cities and a new consumer society. By these developments, progress was linked with poverty, illustrating that the majority of the US population was sceptical about the dependency on the fluctuation of global economy.

Immigration is what shaped America to what it is today. In fact, there would be no America if not for immigration because everyone in the country is an immigrant or is directly descended from one. America as we know today would not be called a “melting pot” if it was not for the rich culture immigrants brought with them such as style, food, worth ethics and entertainment. The oldest inhabitants, the Native Americans, emigrated from Asia. The rest of us come from all different ethnicity, background, culture, and places in the world. Countries and islands such as England, Jamaica, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, China, Ireland, Germany, and many others have all contributed to populate the United States. Immigration started with our nation’s beginning and had continued for every year since. Each wave of immigrant brings new ideas and cultures as the people integrate with other Americans who are immigrants themselves. Immigration, a necessity, can have a devastating effects on the country’s economy and population if uncontrolled. Therefore, immigration is only good, if it is limited immigration and is controlled.