Immigration Descrimination
Attention statement: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddles masses yearning to be free” these are the words that have greeted hundreds of thousands of immigrants coming to our country on the gates of Ellis Island.
INTRO
America is an idea, a set of beliefs about people and their relationships and the kind of society which holds the best hope of satisfying the needs each of us brings as an individual. For countless immigrants, the struggle to arrive in America was rivaled only by the struggle to gain acceptance among the population. Immigrants say they came to America seeking economic opportunity and freedom for themselves and their children, and at the same time they have all, at one time, experienced discrimination. First, we will be looking at the general history of immigration to the United States from the 19th century on into the 21st. We will explain who came to the United States and why. We will focus on the treatment of the larger more prominent groups who emigrated. Finally, we will point out the views of today’s immigrants and those who oppose their presence in America.
BEGINNING OF BODY
“America was built by immigrants.” From Plymouth Rock in the 17th century to Ellis Island in the 20th century, people from every corner of the earth have come to America. Immigrants left their home countries for various reasons. Some were fleeing religious persecution and political turmoil. Most, however, came for economic reasons and were part of extensive migratory systems that responded to changing demands in labor markets. The American economy needed both skilled and unskilled workers through much of the 19th century. But after the 1880’s the demand was almost exclusively for unskilled workers to fill the growing number of factories in the American Northeast.
Southern and Eastern Europeans dislocated from their land and possessing few skills were attracted to the rapidly increasing industries in the United States. Four major factors altered their society in Europe; extreme population growth, spreading commercial agriculture, the rise of the factory system, and the proliferation of inexpensive means of transportation. Many immigrants were somewhat coerced to leave their countries. Emigration companies placed advertisements in news papers across Europe, some promising great fortune, land, and pro...
... middle of paper ...
...nts to acquire an American education unless they plan on putting it to use in America.
Today, in considering America’s rich immigrant history and hundreds of nationalities, which have come to the u.s. to see a new home, we are keenly aware of the hardships and rejection faced by newcomers as they attempted to assimilate into American culture. For countless immigrants, the struggle to arrive in America was rivaled only by the struggle to gain acceptance among the population.
It is wrong to allow one group to infringe upon anthers rights only because o religious, or cultural differences. The prejudice demonstrated against immigrants is a violation of their constitutional rights. After all, because of the fact the first inhabitants of America were native Americans, everyone who lives in the United States can be considered of immigrant ancestry. Repeatedly, immigrants’ stake in American society and their right to be American citizens was denied. It was their right to become American citizens. We wanted to bring this topic of immigrant discrimination to all of your attention because we must learn from past encroachments of rights to ensure that they do not occur in the future.
America is a land filled with immigrants coming from different corners of the worlds, all in hopes of finding a better life in the country. However, No one had an easy transition from his or her home country to this foreign land. Not every race thrived the same way—some were luckier than others, while some have faced enormous obstacles in settling down and being part of the American society. Many people have suffered
In the years from 1860 through 1890, the prospect of a better life attracted nearly ten million immigrants who settled in cities around the United States. The growing number of industries produced demands for thousands of new workers and immigrants were seeking more economic opportunities. Most immigrants settled near each other’s own nationality and/or original village when in America.
During the late 1800's and early 1900's hundreds of thousands of European immigrants migrated to the United States of America. They had aspirations of success, prosperity and their own conception of the American Dream. The majority of the immigrants believed that their lives would completely change for the better and the new world would bring nothing but happiness. Advertisements that appeared in Europe offered a bright future and economic stability to these naive and hopeful people. Jobs with excellent wages and working conditions, prime safety, and other benefits seemed like a chance in a lifetime to these struggling foreigners. Little did these people know that what they would confront would be the complete antithesis of what they dreamed of.
What is a myth? Well to most it’s a concept or idea that are adapted to lead someone to believe a certain idea or concept. America is full of myths, tons. As a society they are lead to believe that if they put in the effort and work hard successes will come their way. If they want to succeed creating their own opportunities is a must. Our society feeds into these myths when in fact race and gender play a huge role in the successes they achieve. Heaven forbid the employee that works hard and puts in the time and effort should receive the rewards that are deserved, not based on whether they are male or female, black or white. Society and the media sensationalize the idea that a happy life is a wealthy and lavish life. Material possessions are
Immigration has existed around the world for centuries, decades, and included hundreds of cultures. Tired of poverty, a lack of opportunities, unequal treatment, political corruption, and lacking any choice, many decided to emigrate from their country of birth to seek new opportunities and a new and better life in another country, to settle a future for their families, to work hard and earn a place in life. As the nation of the opportunities, land of the dreams, and because of its foundation of a better, more equal world for all, the United States of America has been a point of hope for many of those people. A lot of nationals around the world have ended their research for a place to call home in the United States of America. By analyzing primary sources and the secondary sources to back up the information, one could find out about what Chinese, Italians, Swedish, and Vietnamese immigrants have experienced in the United States in different time periods from 1865 to 1990.
To say that immigrants in America have experienced discrimination would be an understatement. Ever since the country formed, they have been seen as inferior, such as African-Americans that were unwillingly brought to the 13 colonies in the 17th century with the intention to be used as slaves. However, post-1965, immigrants, mainly from Central and South America, came here by choice. Many came with their families, fleeing from their native land’s poverty; these immigrants were in search of new opportunities, and more importantly, a new life. They faced abuse and Cesar Chavez fought to help bring equality to minorities.
Between 1880 and 1920 almost twenty-four million immigrants came to the United States. Between better salaries, religious freedom, and a chance to get ahead in life, were more than enough reasons for leaving their homelands for America. Because of poverty, no future and various discrimination in their homelands, the incentive to leave was increasing. During the mid-1800's and early 1900's, the labor and farm hands in Eastern Europe were only earning about 15 to 30 a day. In America, they earned 50 cents to one dollat in a day, doubling their paycheck. Those lower wage earners in their homeland were st...
What would it be like to wake up everyday knowing you would get bullied, mistreated, and/or abused just because of where you were born? Discrimination still exists! “Discrimination remains and there is an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics, Latinos and Mexican-Americans, as one of the perceived symbols of that discrimination, the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, nears completion. Instead of pulling together in these difficult times, we may see a greater polarization of attitudes” (Gibson). But why are hate crimes increasing towards Latin and Hispanic aliens and what types of discrimination are occurring against them? Understanding violence towards the Hispanic and Latin alien is divided into three main classes; the difference between legal and illegal aliens, the attacks and effects, and the point of view of different people towards aliens.
An outburst in growth of America’s big city population, places of 100,000 people or more jumped from about 6 million to 14 million between 1880 and 1900, cities had become a world of newcomers (551). America evolved into a land of factories, corporate enterprises, and industrial workers, and, the surge in immigration supplied their workers. In the latter half of the 19th century, continued industrialization and urbanization sparked an increasing demand for a larger and cheaper labor force. The country's transformation from a rural agricultural society into an urban industrial nation attracted immigrants worldwide. As free land and free labor disappeared and as capitalists dominated the economy, dramatic social, political, and economic tensions were created.
Throughout American history, flocks of foreigners have immigrated to America in search of the well renowned idea of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Even before it’s declaration of independence in 1776, the United States was a haven for those seeking a better life. Immigrants came to America by the thousands, journeying to the land of the free in hope to obtain the American dream. With an excessive amount of people entering the country, America has evolved into the ultimate melting pot for all who want to be a part of it. As time has passed, this country has managed to maintain a warm welcome for those venturing into the United States. However, with the increase of people who hope to live in America, entry into the United States
Turkey, a country with more than two million refugees, has tried to limit the amount of migrants moving to Europe with varying success. The EU agreed to prelaunch Turkey’s stalled bid to join the European Union, because of this. The EU is also working with the countries surrounding Syria, in these countries, many people have taken refuge, these countries include Lebanon and Jordan. Syria’s other neighbors including, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (6).
After the November 13th terror attacks in Paris, especially, Europeans are becoming increasingly wary and afraid of the potential for terrorists to enter Europe under the guise of legitimate refugees. The investigation which followed the attacks in Paris led to the uncovering of the fact that the attackers were European passport holders who had slipped in and out of Syria undetected, investigators also discovered a Syrian passport held by one of the attackers. The ability for potential terrorists to enter Europe as asylum seekers presents an ominous and imminent threat to Europe and Europeans. Many reforms to the Schengen Agreement, which was previously mentioned, are being proposed. These reforms do have the potential to take away from the value of unrestricted travel for innocent people though. The vast majority of European politicians want to show that they take national security and the safety of their citizens more seriously than lofty European ideals. Leaders want to find ways to improve European security without compromising the integrity of their respective nations, current attempts have proven to be ineffective. As of yet, there is not an effective way to handle the imminent threat presented by the possible presence of terrorists among Syrian refugees, because of this, Europe cannot afford to endanger its
“Refugees”. It’s as if ever time a person turns on the TV or browses the internet in the present day, there’s some news story about people seeking the safety of living in another country because their own is in disaster. Presently, the Syrian refugee crisis, where millions of Syrians are being displaced due to a civil war in their country, is at the headline of the national newspaper, but refugee displacement has been an issue for decades. The most notable crisis in the world’s history was at the end of World War II, where people escaping Hitler’s regime had to find a new home. It was at this time that Western Europe adopted its negative stance on immigration, turning their backs not just on legitimate people wanting to move into their country, but also on refugees from other countries. Their policies have stayed mostly the same up
A columnist for the Qatari Al-Sharq, Ali Al-Rashid, wrote, “The Arab and Islamic states, their governments and peoples, bear no small share of the responsibility for the situation of the Syrians and for their ongoing exodus to Europe… because this ongoing and growing stream of refugees that is flowing into Europe, especially in recent months, has several underlying causes. Perhaps the most important of these [causes] is the restrictions that have been placed on Syrian refugees in most of the countries bordering Syria where they have been compelled to stay, whether [restrictions] on [finding] employment with reasonable pay that would meet the basic needs of sustenance, or in providing education for their children and health services for their families. In these countries they are also subjected to constraints on their freedom of movement…” (memri.org). The first question to be asked is why would the bordering Islamic/Arab countries exhibit such restricting policies on the Syrian refugees, especially enough for them to want to risk their life crossing oceans just to get to Europe? In response to Syrians heading to Europe and risking their lives, we hear nothing from rich Gulf countries and the silence is deafening. We see that there are 1.8 million Syrians that have migrated to Turkey and 1.17 million that are in the less sufficient Lebanon (as of July 9th of 2015), so
In the last few weeks there has been stories of lives lost, sacrificed and risked all in the immigration of mass quantities of refugees into Europe. In the middle East countries such as Syria, Damascus, and northern parts of Iraq. There has been a mass shift in the population of Syria as many Syrians wish to escape the conflict and flee into Europe countries like Germany, Hungry, and the UK. In the media, much of the news coverage has been on the refugees ' stories. Germany has been overrun with the flooding of refugees. Countries are thought to accept them with open arms are countries that are a part of the UN have an “obligation” to give asylum to the refugees. “According to the European Union, almost 150,00 Syrian refugees have declared political asylum in the European Union since the start of the current conflict in Syria, the majority in Germany and Sweden” ( European University Institute). The media portrays these Syrian and all immigrants ' stories to be harsh and cruel. The show graphic images of how the refugees risk their life to come to a better country. One without conflict and war. An example of the graphic stories covered is the one of a Syrian boy that was found washed ashore. “Aylan Kurdi, a Syrian Kurd from Kobani, a town near the Turkish border that has witnessed months of heavy fighting between the Islamic St...