Immigration and Immigrants in America
Most Americans place their pride in being apart of a country where a man can start at the bottom and work his way to the top. We also stress the fact that we are “all created equal” with “certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Jefferson 45) During the early 1900s white Americans picked and chose who they saw fit to live in America and become an American. “Those that separate the desirable from the undesirable citizen or neighbor are individual rather than race.”
(Abbott 307) In the 1900s the desired immigrant was one who spoke English and practiced customs who were similar to ours. Whereas an undesirable was one whose “customs he (Americans) understood, whose language is quite unrelated to English, the American finds “strange” and even “suspicious”.” (Abbott 307) The biggest debate today would be what could the individual/race can contribute to the American economy.
“The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form new opinions.” (Crevecoeur 26) With Crevecoeur’s definition anyone with half of a brain could be an American. This statement is basically contradicted by everything that is American. American society only wants people that can contribute to our economy. For decades people in America were sure of two things concerning immigrants. They came for the opportunity to build a better life for their families and they would not seek nor would they accept a handout. The drive and attitude of immigrants who came to America during the nineteen twenties through the nineteen sixties built strong work ethics that created our now famous American melting pot. But for the past thir...
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...d to the building of America; Therefore other races can only but add on to the good things that are happening in America.
Works Cited
Abbot, Grace. “The Immigrants Place in a Social Program.” Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill, 1997. 304-309
Crevecoeur, Hector St. Jean De. “What is an American?” Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill, 1992. 23-40
Hall, Prescott F. “The Future of American Ideals” Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill. 300-303
Thompson, Ginger. “U.S. and Mexico to Open Talks on Freer Migration for Workers.” Handout from newspaper. **no date or name on handout***
Ward, Robert De Courcey. “Race Betterment and Our Immigration Law.” Proceedings of the First National Conference on Race Betterment, January 8,9,10,11,12,Battle Creek, Michigan. Battle Creek: Gage, 1914. 543-544, 545 CD-ROM. American Identity Explorer Immigration and Migration. McGraw-Hill, 2000.
Since they lacked certain physical and/or cultural characteristics needed to belong in the American nation, they were not considered worthy enough to receive the same rights and privileges they deserve. Therefore, Takaki hopes that with his book, people would acknowledge how America developed a society centered to benefit only white people with the creation of laws hindering these racial groups from receiving the same and equal rights they deserve.
Throughout history, United-States citizens have elected several presidents, and each one of them are worth knowing for an event or an act in particular. There is an infinite amount of lessons that can be learned from other people’s mistakes, victories, and defeats. Theodore Roosevelt is one of the elected presidents, and he is worth knowing because he helped establish the Children's Aid Society, he facilitated the construction of the Panama Canal and he averted a national emergency by dealing with the 1902 coal strike. Roosevelt's had a profound impact on our society.
Theodore Roosevelt brought changes to the United States; one of the changes was with politics. If Roosevelt had never become President, then politics would have been different. The term “modern president,” was given to him because of his way of using politics to gain power. If he never went into office, then there would not be that Modern president to push America into a new era. His boldness and out-spoken nature helped usher in a new kind of president, one that stands against the big industries and speaks for the people. His use of the “square deal” helped the common welfare of the United States. Politics would be much different than it is now if Roosevelt had never been
President Franklin Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. He created economic stability when the United States was suffering through the Great Depression. In his first three months of office, known as the Hundred Days, Roosevelt took immediate action to help the struggling nation.1 "In a period of massive unemployment, a collapsed stock market, thousands of banks closing for lack of liquidity, and agricultural prices fallen below the cost of production," Roosevelt passed a series of relief measures.2 These relief measures, known as the New Deal, provided help for individuals and businesses to prevent bankruptcy. Also, the New Deal is responsible for social security, welfare, and national parks. A further reason why Roosevelt is considered a great president is because he was a good role model for being determined in his...
Founded by groups as diverse as indigenous Native Americans, Dutch merchants, English separatists, Spanish missionaries, French frontiersman and Africans – both free and enslaved – the country’s diversity stretches back four centuries” (9). America is an extraordinary country. In my opinion, America is the most diverse population and culture. However, exceptional does not necessarily mean better. I have never understood that some Americans have the mindset that they are ‘better’ than other countries. I generally like America, but that is enough for me. I don 't need it to be "better" than other places to be satisfied. I came here to have a better life, better education and to have a better home. However, if American history were full of lies they should make a wise action and should tell the truth and tell what really happened in the past. In my mind today is “Where do we find truth these days?” It is certainly not in the history a state teaches its children, or in the press that props up its leaders. Africans both free and enslaved and immigrants has freedom I just hope that, people of color and Americans have real unity and still respect each other in the future
In the article, it illustrates about Peter Salins who had two types of purposes for writing the “Assimilation, American Style.” One out of its two purposes was to reveal how immigrants were a big part or played a huge contribution to mainstream America. In addition to immigrants playing a big role, they wanted the immigrants to make a change to American without them losing their identity or self-image. The reason behind that is because the immigrants wanted to stay true to themselves, without society changing them severely. The second reason that Salins wrote this article was to argue with both the political left and the nativist right for the attack on their assimilation, and as well having the immigrants follow up on a policy that had 700,000 immigrants within a year of entering into the
From the very beginning of his time in the presidential spotlight, Theodore Roosevelt signified the Progressive goal and ambition. Often times, Roosevelt’s presidency is labeled as accidental or ironic. This irony is present in the fact that he was given the role of vice president to William McKinley simply because Roosevelt’s rising popularity and progressive ideals were seen as a threat by McKinley. The McKinley administration figured that they could silence the growing progressive voice Roosevelt embodied by giving him the menial position of vice president. So, it was seen as a shock when McKinley was suddenly assassinated, six months into his second term, and Roosevelt rose to power bringing with him new excitement and power to the Presidency (Theodore Roosevelt ). It is exactly this surge of excitement and charisma which made Roosevelt one of America’s most unforgettable presidents. His presidential career and attitude can be described by the phrase “steward of the people” which he aimed to embody throughout his term, this meant that Roosevelt made his primary goal to maintain the public good to the fullest extent of his power (Theodore Roosevelt ). Roosevelt’s character and contributions to the Progressive campaign are both equally important parts of American history and will be explored throughout this paper.
In conclusion the progressive policies of Theodore Roosevelt had a great positive effect on America as a whole. His labor policies helped poor Americans gain the repect that they deserved and his “New Nationalism” united the classes like never before in our history. His foreign policies helped to keep World War I from breaking out earlier then it did and helped to keep peace in Asia. Truly his policies were one of the high points in presidential history.
Race survived throughout the twentieth century in part due to the continuing discrimination against those of non-western European descent. From a cultural aspect we began to separate groups and degrade them by using offensive terms such a “Huns”, “Greasers”, and “Hunkys” to describe the immigrant groups (Roediger, 2008). There was also a problem with laws being bended to only include only a select few. In the case of Takao Ozawa seeking naturalization he was denied not because he was not white culturally (in the form of religion). The Naturalization Acts grew viscious as races began to throw each other under the bus hoping that they could personally find a way to become a white citizen. It became a dream to achieve the status of a working white american.
Color of America Essay 1.) During the last few centuries many people have migrated to America. One of the main reasons for that is that they all hear about the American Dream and the Promise of America. The American Dream/Promise of America is pretty much a false idea. People from many different places hear that there is freedom and fairness here in this nation, and they hear that there is opportunity in America for everyone and that everyone had a word in things. This promise wasn’t really a promise though.
As a country founded on the many cultures drawn to a promise of a better life, the United States sees immigrants as vital to its expansion. Beginning with the first European settlements in 1607, America has since experienced successive waves of immigration that have risen and fallen over time. Throughout history, immigrants have helped form a distinct and unique political and social culture while providing labor for the growing economy. Immigrants shaped America. In the past, Americans embraced different cultures and assimilated new ideas, yet always maintained a strong sense of loyalty to the principles by which the country was founded on – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Immigration meant more opportunities for innovators, scholars,
Erika, Lee. "U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Laws and Issues." Journal of American Ethnic History. Vol. 20. Issue 2 (2001): n. page. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
Carens, J. H. (1987) "Aliens and Citizens: "The Case for Open Borders," Review of Politics,
Though the United States is home to many immigrants, controversy surrounds the issue of immigrants in the United States. The United States in a melting pot of various backgrounds and cultures, yet it is hard for all to merge into acceptance of one another. The first chapter of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and class covers stratification, prejudice and discrimination, and inequality.
“What makes someone American isn 't just blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone form anywhere can write the next chapter of our story” –Barack Obama. Immigration is flawed in the United Sates. Most North Americans have a feeling of hate towards immigrants from all over the world, because they think that immigrants are taking their jobs. The fact is that immigrants actually play a huge role in the economy and development of a country. The whole United States is built on immigrants. Throughout American history, millions of people around the world have left their home countries for a chance to start a new life in the U.S and they continue to emigrate. There are some theories as to why people