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The contribution of immigrants to the growth and development of the United States
The Background of Immigrants in America
Summary of the immigration contribution
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Compare and Contrast: A Quilt of a Country & The Immigrant Contribution Imagine America without immigrants. What do you see? Or should I ask, what do you not see? All throughout America’s history, immigrants have been involved, in some way, shape, or form. Even now, an American citizen could be asked to name three immigrants that have impacted the American society, and they would answer without any hesitation. Two citizens even went out of their way to acknowledge their presence in writing. Our president, John F. Kennedy wrote a book called “The Immigrant Contribution” and Anna Quindlen wrote the essay “A Quilt of a Country”. Anna Quindlen’s essay and former President Kennedy’s book both tell how America would not be the Country it is today …show more content…
without immigrants. Both of these passages agree that immigrants play a major role in American culture. In Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” she compares America to a quilt because it is made up of people from many different cultures and ethnicities. “That’s because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of it’s great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades.” (Quindlen 14). Likewise, in Kennedy’s book he says, “all Americans have been immigrants or descendants of immigrants” (Kennedy 23). The culture in America has been shaped throughout history by those who immigrated here. In the same way that immigrants help to create an American culture, they have also have a great impact on our day to day life.
Because of immigrants, we have made many advances in industry, science, politics, the arts, and more. “Indeed, if, as some of the older immigrants like to do, we were to restrict the definition of immigrants to the 42 million people who came to the United States after the Declaration of Independence, we would have to conclude that our history and our society would have been vastly different if they had all stayed home” (Kennedy 24). In “A Quilt of a Country”, Quindlen also agrees that immigrants have a major effect on our day to day life, perhaps sometimes in a negative way. If immigrants never came to America, we may not have the issues we have had concerning racial violence and segregation. “Slavery and Sweatshops, the burning of crosses and the ostracism of the other. Children learn in social-studies and in the news of the lynching of the blacks, the denial of rights to women, the murders of gay men.” (Quindlen 14). Whether it be positively or negatively, immigrants have a significant impact on American …show more content…
life. Former President ,John F.
Kennedy ,is very straightforward in his diction. He leaves no mystery in his words or meaning, in contrast to Anna Quindlen. For instance when talking about how the American economy has profited from the immigrant’s contribution he gives a thorough list to support his point. “Industrialists: Andrew Carnegie (Scot), in the steel industry; John Jacob Astor (German), in the fur trade; Michael Cudahy (Irish), of the meat packing industry; the Du Ponts (French), of the munitions and chemical industry; Charles L. Fleischmann (Hungarian), of the yeast buisness, David Sarnoff (Russian), of the radio industry; and William S. Knudsen (Danish), of the automobile industry,” (Kennedy 6). As you can clearly see, there is nothing to think about or question here. Kennedy gives you his point without trying to convey another
one. While Kennedy’s essay is very concrete, Quindlen uses a more abstract diction. Her writing uses questions and metaphors that often leave you thinking. For example she asks, “Do the Cambodians and the Mexicans in California coexist less easily today than did the Irish and Italians of Massachusetts a century ago? You know the answer” (Quindlen 14). She also uses metaphors to explain her thinking. For instance, she compares the word “tolerance” to vanilla pudding (Quindlen 15). This makes the reader really ponder what point she is trying to make, instead of just coming out and telling us what she means like Kennedy does. All throughout our history, immigrants have been shaping our country. They bring a variety of different cultures and together it makes our American culture. Without immigrants we would not have made as many advances in areas such as science, industry, and the arts. me. “A Quilt of a Country” and “The Immigrant Contribution” may use different diction in their writing, but they both agree on the same point that without immigrants, America would not be the same.
In paragraph two he states ”when we are confronted with grave crisis in Berlin and Southeast Asia, when we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability, when we are asking reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end…” President Kennedy starts each of his statements with “when we are” to address the sacrifices the people are making while the steel companies prioritizes in this dark hour, which shows they don’t care about their nation. He then shows us how this would be worsened even further if the steel companies maintained the high prices. Kennedy also states “It would make it more difficult for American goods to compete in foreign markets, more difficult to withstand competition from foreign imports, and thus more difficult to improve our balance of payments position…” He then repeatedly starts off with the phrase “more difficult.” This repetition, incorporated with facts, proves his point that the steel companies were unpatriotic and greedy because he shows how much trouble and difficulty the rise in steel companies would cause. Besides using the strategy of repeating words and phrases, Kennedy also uses statistics to achieve his argument.
Kennedy, Richard S. http://www.anb.org/articles/16/16-00394.html; American National Biography Online Feb. 2000. Access Date: Sun Mar 18 12:31:47 2001 Copgyright © 2000 American Council of Learned Societies. Publish by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is a puissant speech that conveys a mighty theme. The steady use of fervent dialect stimulates in the crowd a sense of esteem and obligation, which makes the speech even more impressive. The structure of the diction enhances the ability for all people of the audience to connect. Beginning with an intimate remark and closing with a broad regard, marks the address as both authentic and propelling. Nevertheless, what is most effective is Kennedy’s skill to access the atmosphere of the crowd and examine the circumstances of the juncture that is primarily the cause for the prosperity of this distinguished
Kennedy uses refrences from past events in history to emphasize his point of taking a risk and trying something new, and inspiring his audience. An event from 1630 is used in JFK’s speech as an allusion to make the reader feel a sense of , “William Bradford, speaking in 1630 of the founding of the Plymouth Bay Colony, said that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage” (Kennedy 2). He is proving that after all the hard work, it is succesful and worth it. William Bradford created a colony by the devotion and hard work. Kennedy is relating himself and the country to Bradford, showing the audience that it is possible. Using an example from history makes the audience more committed to landing on the moon when they think the probability for success is high. It gives off the encouraging thought of, “if they did it, we can do it”, which is exactly what JFK was trying to succeed. Kennedy also uses an allusion to exaggerate to sudden change in tecchnology and show how advanced this country...
The United States of America has the largest foreign-born population in the world. With nearly thirteen percent of the total population being foreign-born, one may find it hard to imagine an immigrant-free country (U.S. Bureau of the Census). Immigration has been an integral part of the United States’ overall success and the country’s economy since it was established and without it, would have never been founded at all. Although there are some negative issues associated with immigration and many native-born Americans believe to be more of a problem than a solution, overall it actually has a positive effect. Immigrants in America, among other things, fill jobs where native-born Americans may not want to work or cannot work, they contribute to Social Services and Medicaid through taxes and they help provide the backbone of America, especially by working jobs that natives may have not even considered.
In the United States, the cliché of a nation of immigrants is often invoked. Indeed, very few Americans can trace their ancestry to what is now the United States, and the origins of its immigrants have changed many times in American history. Despite the identity of an immigrant nation, changes in the origins of immigrants have often been met with resistance. What began with white, western European settlers fleeing religious persecution morphed into a multicultural nation as immigrants from countries across the globe came to the U.S. in increasing numbers. Like the colonial immigrants before them, these new immigrants sailed to the Americas to gain freedom, flee poverty and famine, and make a better life for themselves. Forgetting their origins as persecuted and excluded people, the older and more established immigrants became possessive about their country and tried to exclude and persecute the immigrant groups from non-western European backgrounds arriving in the U.S. This hostile, defensive, and xenophobic reaction to influxes of “new” immigrants known as Nativism was not far out of the mainstream. Nativism became a part of the American cultural and political landscape and helped to shape, through exclusion, the face of the United States for years to come.
The United States has often been referred to as a global “melting pot” due to its assimilation of diverse cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities. In today’s society, this metaphor may be an understatement. Between 1990 and 2010, the number of foreign born United States residents nearly doubled from 20 million to 40 million, increasing the U.S. population from almost 250 million to 350 million people. With U.S. born children and grandchildren of immigrants, immigration contributed to half of this population growth. These immigrants, consisting of mostly Asian and Hispanic backgrounds, have drastically changed the composition of the U.S. population. In 2010, Asians and Hispanics made up 20 percent of the U.S. population, in contrast to a 6 percent share of Asians and Hispanics in 1970. It is predicted that by 2050, the share of immigrants in the United States will increase to one half of the entire population. With this rapid increase in diversity, many citizens have opposing views on its impact on the United States. In my opinion, an increase in immigration does contain both positive and negatives effects, but in general it provides an overriding positive influence on America’s society (“Population”).
Some would say, quotes John F. Kennedy, “Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.” Thus, in today’s society, we can say that immigrants are what made America possible—economically and socially. We are in a melting pot era where the impossible was made possible. From the time John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960, making a promise to change the national origins system to unite the nations of all countries equally. Hence, in 1965, under Lyndon Johnson’s administration, Kennedy’s promise came into light, amending the INS—favoring unification of families, not national origins. Although, the unification was made possible, the peacefulness never lasted.
In class we had to read two stories, Quilt of a Country and The Immigrant Contribution. Both of these stories were similar but also very different. I will be telling about the similarities and differences in these two stories.
Immigration has always and will always be an essential part of America’s demographic and cultural diversity. Our country was founded on the immigration of Europeans to the New World; without them our nation would not be as advanced as it is today. Over the past three centuries, America’s immigration policies have evolved, both positively and negatively. Although we are moving forward, several episodes in our country’s immigration policy have targeted and attacked certain ethnic or cultural groups. Throughout America there is disparity regarding attitudes toward immigrants. Policies fluctuate throughout the entire country, different states, and even major cities. As the United States moves forth, it is vital that we remember how crucial immigrants
The United States cannot afford to lose the economic gains that come from immigrant labor. The economy would be suffering a greater loss if it weren’t for immigrants and their labor contributions, especially during the 2008 U.S. recession. The U.S. economy would most likely worsen if it weren’t for the strong labor force immigrants have provided this country. Despite the mostly negative views native-born Americans have towards immigrants and the economy, their strong representation in the labor forces continues today. Immigrants aren’t taking “American” jobs, they are taking the jobs that Americans don’t want (Delener & Ventilato, 2008). Immigrants contribute to various aspects of the economy, including brining valuable skills to their jobs, contributing to the cost of living through taxes, and the lacked use of welfare, healthcare, and social security when compared to native-born Americans, showing that the United States cannot afford to lose the contribution immigrants bring into the economy.
John F. Kennedy uses a lot of concrete diction, one example is “In 1953 the President’s Commission on Immigration and Naturalization mentioned the following: Industrialists: Andrew Carnegie (Scot), in the steel industry; John Jacob Astor (German), in the fur trade; Michael Cudahy (Irish)... Ottmar Mergenthaler (German), who invented the linotype machine.” John F. Kennedy used mostly concrete diction, unlike Quindlen who used mostly Sophisticated, an example is “America is an improbable idea. Mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone.” They both appeal to their readers in different ways, J.F.Ks seem more directed towards the common American, while Quindlen’s seem more towards intellectual Americans.
Immigrants have always been an important part of United States’ population. Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from all around the world, including legal and illegal, come into the United States for job opportunities, new life, or the American Dream. “Immigrants have contributed significantly to the development of the United States. During the Lincoln administration, immigrants were actually encouraged to come to America, as they were considered valuable to the development of the country.” (Soylu & Buchanan, 2013). They believe that the US will give them more freedom, protection, and opportunities, which sometimes it becomes the major issues for immigrants. That’s why “the U.S. population is becoming more racially and
America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants."
While immigration for our country is good, the ability to become a legal citizen has become insanely hard, therefore leading immigrants to illegally cross our border, which negatively impacts our country. Immigration is positive for our country’s economy, although illegal immigration is negatively impacting our country. Resolved to join the American way of life, a large number of outsiders have ventured to this extraordinary land to have an existence based upon “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Determined to join the American lifestyle, thousands of immigrants have journeyed to this great land to have a life based upon “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This country’s backbone is immigration and it started when this country was made.