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The Pros And Cons Of Immigration

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“In that country, rich or poor, a man was free, it was said; he did not have to go into the army, he did not have to pay out his money to rascally officials-he might do as he pleased, and count himself as good as any other man” (Sinclair, 26). This fantasy of American freedom led thousands of immigrants to migrate from 1865-1910 so that they, too, could try their luck at the American Dream. However, these immigrants soon came to realize that the fast-changing social, political, and economic environment they had come to would hold them back rather than let them reach their full potential. Although the immigrants had the basic freedoms that all Americans had, without familiarity of the customs and language of this new society, and exploitation by those in political and economic power that wanted to …show more content…

Jurgis, like many immigrants, comes to America full of hope but with a lack of education, misunderstanding about the legal systems and American culture, and only one word of English. These social failings made him an easy target of manipulation by people in charge who just wanted to take advantage of Jurgis and his family to benefit themselves. Due to constantly falling victim to this unfair society, Jurgis was always desperately in need of money, forcing him to work harder and longer, enslaved in the system, and therefore not truly free. As soon as Jurgis and his family arrived in New York, they were swindled by a corrupt immigration officer, described as smooth-talking, who had made Jurgis "pay such high prices, and almost prevented their leaving his place, in spite of their paying" (Sinclair, 20). This exemplifies Jurgis' lack of power in the system, and his inability to fight those in charge, partly due to his total faith in the country, and the people in it. This is once

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