Similarities Among Immigrant Groups Throughout the early 1800s and up into the 1900s, many ethnic groups immigrated to America, many, in the hopes of living a better life, whether it be by avoiding bloodshed, or avoiding harsh living conditions. Most of these ethnic groups travelled thousands of miles across the oceans to reach America. This magnified image of America being such a wonderful place was dissolved when most ethnic groups that immigrated were faced with hard living conditions, unequal pay, and even racism. The push and pull factor was a huge part of immigration. Many ethnic groups had similar push and pull factors. One example of the push factors was with the Japanese and the Irish, both were suffering due to agriculture. The Japanese …show more content…
were suffering due to economic hardship, thousands of farmers had to sell their land just to pay taxes. This hardship, along with the belief that money grew on trees in America was a big push towards the immigration. Similarly, the Irish were suffering due to the Potato Famine, also known as the Great Famine, which caused numerous deaths. This epidemic was the big push factor for the Irish. One example of the pull factors was with the Mexicans and the Chinese. The main pull factor for both of these ethnic groups were the gold rush. Once in America, all the different ethnic groups had to work to survive.
Different ethnic groups usually worked in different work industries such as working on railroads, mines, and factories. In some cases, ethnic groups shared the same work industry for example, the Chinese, Irish, and the Russians. The Russian women once in America usually went to go work in giant garment factories. The Chinese worked in many different areas of work, including the garment industry. The Irish along with working in mills and mines, also worked as shoemakers. Another case of different ethnic groups working in the same industry were the Mexicans and the Chinese. The Chinese, along with working in the garment industry, also worked on building railroads. Similarly, the Mexicans usually worked on farms, in mines, or building railroads. Although, by 1880 most workers on Texas railroads were built by Mexicans. Labor unions were a big part in getting these newly immigrated ethnic groups equality in America, whether it be from equal treatments to equal pay, most ethnic groups had to create unions with other ethnic groups to get equality. One example of this was with the Mexicans, and the Russians. In 1903, 3,500 Mexican miners went on strike for equal wages. Similarly, in 1909, 20,000 Russian garment workers went on strike for longer hours, safer working conditions, and better
pay.
Immigration is a large aspect of American history. In the book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez, we are able to see the struggles of one Hispanic boy immigrating to the United States from Mexico. Many of the people in the community that Francisco lived in didn’t really accept Hispanic people. It was really depressing that he would make friends, go over to their house and their parents wouldn’t let him come over again, simply because he was Hispanic. In Diversity Matters the text states, “Unique stresses created by the process of immigration to another country and discrimination faced in the new country can create psychological distress for many immigrants” (Spradlin 126). During this time in America, there was still a lot of discrimination going on not only with Hispanics, but other minority races like African Americans. This really goes to show how far our country has come over the years. There is still a long way to go, but I think that if people are more educated and aware of the discrimination people face on a daily basis they will be more open-minded. The United States is becoming more open to diversity, but first we will look at the struggles of one Hispanic boy growing up here illegally in Breaking Through.
In the late nineteenth century, many European immigrants traveled to the United States in search of a better life and good fortune. The unskilled industries of the Eastern United States eagerly employed these men who were willing to work long hours for low wages just to earn their food and board. Among the most heavily recruiting industries were the railroads and the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania. Particularly in the steel mills, the working conditions for these immigrants were very dangerous. Many men lost their lives to these giant steel-making machines. The immigrants suffered the most and also worked the most hours for the least amount of money. Living conditions were also poor, and often these immigrants would barely have enough money and time to do anything but work, eat, and sleep. There was also a continuous struggle between the workers and the owners of the mills, the capitalists. The capitalists were a very small, elite group of rich men who held most of the wealth in their industries. Strikes broke out often, some ending in violence and death. Many workers had no political freedom or even a voice in the company that employed them. However, through all of these hardships, the immigrants continued their struggle for a better life.
During the 1900’s, it was common for people to immigrate to America. They saw it as a land of freedom and opportunity. Some thought that this was a great way for the US’ economy to boom, but some thought otherwise. With the shortage of jobs, many believed that the immigrants were stealing their precious jobs. Because of the competition over jobs, immigrants became the new public enemy to many.
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.
In 1800s, the industrial revolution spread across the United States, which significantly change the way of manufacturing and labor society function. More and more Europeans were transferred to America, which increased the population of America. In addition, the larger transportation and communication made the old type of labor conventions and household manufactory became outdated. At that time, the “Artisan Republicanism” was extraordinary popular in the United States, people work depended on their workmanships, and people were also able to be their own boss on the job. However, factory based workplaces replaced the traditional patterns of work, which significantly increased the efficiency of manufactory industry, but on the other hand, labors met big problem, not only on the status of a master in their field, but also on the lower wages and longer working hours. American workers found that they had become “wage slaves”. In response of these changes, laborers started protesting the new revolution, resisted changes of older traditions of work,
During the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century the rise of immigration centered around two specific ethnic groups. Irish and German immigrants provided a large portion of immigrants that were entering the United States between the 1820’s and 1920’s. Both ethnic groups invested in making the journey to the United States for several reasons, however some immigrants were not given much choice. Economic opportunities attracted both ethnic groups into making the migration to the America, however others came because they felt dislocated or threatened in their own country. Choosing to come to America for these two groups was a similar decision but with their similarities came differences as well.
Why? Well, America used the pull factor to attract by having many opportunities accessible here. The immigrants came from nations with small democratic traditions. They were usually Catholic, uneducated, and had no money. Industrialization leads to urbanization created economic growth and job opportunities that drew people into the cities. The main immigration centers were Angel Island and Ellis Island. The reason many factories were employing immigrants was because they needed money and companies typically could paid immigrants less. Since there were so many immigrants coming to America, the Hull House in Chicago was founded by Jane Addams to help them. One negative effect of immigration was that is caused
America is often known as the land of opportunity, a place where you can be free. Many Immigrants came to America so that they could have a greater possibility at succeeding in life. Immigrants took a leap of faith when coming to America, for some it worked out well but for others they had a difficult time here. Despite the struggles that the immigrants encountered such as; standing out from others, being separated from their families, and breaking their culture, the immigrants are still grateful to be in America because they were in better conditions than they were in their home land. When viewing interviews or looking at an immigrant’s perspective you get many responses to being in America, some major things that stood out were the amount of freedom the immigrant had, and the age of the immigrant. These two things had a huge impact on the opinion of America from an Immigrants point of view.
The early 1900s was a period of mass immigration for the United States. At the turn of the 20th century religious preferences and political persecution were major reasons behind immigration. Many Jews came to America in search of freedom. People of other religious backgrounds also came because the United States was composed of a diverse group of people with different religious preferences. The immigrants did not feel like outcasts in America. Political persecution in Russia forced many of its citizens to emigrate. Most chose to come to America because the country was culturally diverse and they could feel safe there. Economic problems at this time also drove people to America. Many countries around the world were just starting to develop so they were poor and lacked jobs. Their citizens were in desperate need of money; so many fathers immigrated to America in search of a job to support their family with. This was a common occurrence among Asian immigrants. Only later did their families join them through new laws and quotas in the United States immigration policy. However, this soon led to an enormous number of immigrants so the policy was revised to lower quotas and accept more skilled people and less family members.
The English immigrants are given a brief introduction as the first ethnic group to settle in America. The group has defined the culture and society throughout centuries of American history. The African Americans are viewed as a minority group that were introduced into the country as slaves. The author depicts the struggle endured by African Americans with special emphasis on the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. The entry of Asian Americans evoked suspicion from other ethnic groups that started with the settlement of the Chinese. The Asian community faced several challenges such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the mistreatment of Americans of Japanese origin during World War II. The Chicanos were the largest group of Hispanic peoples to settle in the United States. They were perceived as a minority group. Initially they were inhabitants of Mexico, but after the Westward expansion found themselves being foreigners in their native land (...
Millions of immigrants over the previous centuries have shaped the United States of America into what it is today. America is known as a “melting pot”, a multicultural country that welcomes and is home to an array of every ethnic and cultural background imaginable. We are a place of opportunity, offering homes and jobs and new economic gains to anyone who should want it. However, America was not always such a “come one, come all” kind of country. The large numbers of immigrants that came during the nineteenth century angered many of the American natives and lead to them to blame the lack of jobs and low wages on the immigrants, especially the Asian communities. This resentment lead to the discrimination and legal exclusion of immigrants, with the first and most important law passed being the Chinese Exclusion Act. However, the discrimination the Chinese immigrants so harshly received was not rightly justified or deserved. With all of their contributions and accomplishments in opening up the West, they were not so much harming our country but rather helping it.
United States usually known as the “melting pot” and it is a typical immigrant country. In the past 400 years, United States has become a mixture of more than 100 ethnic groups. Immigrants bring they own dream and come to this land, some of them looking for better life for themselves and some want to make some money to send back home or they want their children to grow up in better condition. Throughout the history there’s few times of large wave of immigration and it is no exaggeration to say that immigrants created United States. For this paper I interview my neighbor and his immigration story is pretty interesting.
Immigration to the united states started in the 7th century, with the first arrivals of European settlers. Once immigration arrive in a new country, they start the long and difficult process of settlement and integration. People emigrate from one country to another for variety reasons. some are forced to move, due to conflict or to escape persecution prejudices, while other may voluntarily emigrate. What makes someone American is not just blood or birth but allegiances to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone from anywhere can write the next chapter of our story.
Immigration from Southern Europe started in 1880. The US experienced an economic boom due to cheap immigrant labor (Steinberg, 1981). Once enough immigrants arrived in the US, immigration laws became strict once again. The distinction between skilled and unskilled jobs created immediate disadvantages for immigrants since most were semi or unskilled. With this distinction their initial place in society was determined, however, some groups were admitted to the white community and experienced its privilege. The influx of different immigrant groups from Europe and the migration of blacks from the south led to the questioning of who is American. A redefining of whiteness occurred, and Anglo-Saxon Protestant was no longer the only requirement. Anglo-American,
What they found was dangerous work in the mines and factories of the east coast. Like the Irish, the newcomers where given hard work with little pay. The miners were only paid for coal mined, any work not directly producing ore was called dead work and unpaid. Collecting mule teams, fortifying the mine shafts and digging rock were all considered dead work. The strict pay schedule, unfair weighting of coal, and general abuse of the miners caused the miners to join the United Mine Workers union. The mine companies attempted to break the strikes with new Eastern European immigrants; however, the new Slavic and Slovak immigrant joined their striking countrymen. The efforts of these new immigrants would improve the lives of miners over time. Like the Italians some of the Slavic and Slovak immigrants came the American to save money and return home to buy larger homes or simple to live well. Yet, even the frugal actions of immigrant were viewed as attempts to disrupt the economy of the United States by taking their money back home with