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Start
The history of immigration in the United States started with Europeans coming to the New World in the early 1600s. These immigrants created the foundation of America. As time went on, these immigrants began to see themselves as separate from the British crown. Once the United States officially declared independence, Americans felt that they had their own society and culture. This resulted in growing feelings of differences from immigrants, because immigrants did not match the American culture. -
Steerage Act
The Steerage Act, ratified in 1819, required better conditions for all ships that arrived to Ellis Island, and forced ship captains to keep records of their passengers, which officially created a federal record of immigrant demographics. This act was created in response to many immigrants dying or becoming extremely ill during their voyage to America. This act more closely aligns itself with the orthodox opinion because. -
Know-Nothing Party
In 1849, the Know-Nothing Party formed as the first anti-immigration, which was angered by the growing population of German and Irish immigrants. This demonstrates a growing concern surrounding immigration, and stands as a beginning to the discrimination against immigrants. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act, which was passed in 1882, barred all Chinese immigrants from entering the country in the wake of anti-Chinese feelings arising after an influx of Chinese immigrants beginning in the 50s. This aligns with a common conservative anti-immigration view. While it was eventually repealed, it was a major demonstration of growing anti-immigrant feelings in America. -
The Immigration Act
Passed in 1891, the Immigration Act listed reasons that would bar people from entering the United States, including practicing polygamy, criminals, and the diseased. It also created a federal immigration office that could enforce immigration, and inspectors that were stationed at major immigration ports. This set a precedent by establishing a group that could oversee immigrants. -
America Benefits from the Labor of Immigrants
From the 1910s-1930, major U.S. cities found that the presence of immigrants increased employment and occupational mobility. Additionally, immigrants were not taking jobs from Americans. This is because immigrants would work competitively for lower-skilled and lower-paying jobs, which allowed Americans to take the better-paying jobs. This exposes a different side to the immigration debate. While there was discrimination against immigrants, this shows that Americans were benefitting. -
Immigrants Receive Amnesty
Ronald Reagan granted amnesty, or an official pardon for people convicted of political offenses, to over 3 million immigrants. This creates a juxtaposition against the anti-immigration feelings that were prominent earlier in the decade by showing governmental empathy towards immigrants. -
Citations
Tabellini, M. (2019, July 5). What America's history of mass migration can teach us about attitudes to immigrants. Retrieved from https://blog.oup.com/2019/07/americas-history-mass-migration-teach-attitudes-immigrants/ History.com Editors. (2018, December 21). U.S. Immigration Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/immigration-united-states-timeline -
Prediction
While I believe the presidential administration has a major influence on the public’s perception of immigrants and their treatment, the United States has continued to adopt more accepting feelings towards immigrants. Many Americans are aware of the need for unskilled workers in occupations that many American citizens do not want to work. As a result, the U.S. will continue to progress into more empathy and appreciation for immigrants. -
Analysis
Over time, the biggest influence on America’s opinion of immigrants has been the perception of losing jobs, and current global crises. Immigrants experienced the worst treatment during times of war with other countries that America “couldn’t trust”. Many people also became angry at immigrants when they felt that their job security was threatened. Despite disagreements, compromises have occurred in the form of repealing laws that were unfair to immigrants because they weren’t Constitutional.
