The Jungle Thesis

The Jungle: MLA Thesis Essay
In the early 20th Century millions of immigrants, bringing various cultures and vital traditions, flooded to the United States to live the “American Dream.” Immigration shaped America into the country it is today. Most of the early American citizens were documented immigrants from all over the world who persevered through long boat rides and other difficulties such as obtaining visas and green cards to get a job and earn citizenship in the “Promised Land.” Now some state governments are ignoring legal policies and offering safe havens, or sanctuaries, for undocumented immigrants to live and work illegally. This upsets people who think these undocumented workers and their families are taking jobs and financial

Every year immigrants are provided with an average of 25,000 government dollars, and only pay about 10,000 dollars in taxes. When illegals arrive in the United States they live and work in what is called the “interim phase” which can last 13 years. During this time they cannot legally apply for welfare or Obama Care, and have to work off the books. After the 13 year period is up they obtain “lawful status” and are just as eligible as a legal immigrant to apply for government benefits, without going through the process of legalization. Illegal immigrants come into the U.S. everyday with forged documentation, which allows them to appear like they are legal and then acquire low income benefits some American families do not have. Even though these illegal families know they are not eligible for government benefits “does not mean they do not apply for them. Yes, it is true that illegal aliens have received grants, professional accreditations, loans, Women Infants and Children (WIC), disability, public housing, college educations, food stamps, unemployment benefits, and tax credits from state and federal agencies” (Hirby). The only way to put a stop to this is to “crack down on those who make and sell forged documents” (Hirby). If the United

The main character Jurgis migrates to America looking to start a new or better life, but in the end faced many hardships, and endures many difficult jobs. Sinclair writes, “So America was a place of which lovers and young people dreamed. If one could only manage to get the price of passage, he could count his troubles at an end.”(Sinclair 23). This quote from The Jungle displays what the “American Dream” came to be. The overflow of immigrants in the 1900’s left America citizens jobless, homeless and caused a skyrocket in the unemployment rate. If the American government does not properly address the immense number of immigrants fleeing from their home countries, the United States could face something similar to the Great Depression. There are only so many jobs available, and if the amount of immigrants coming into the U.S. annually stays at this growing rate, there is no hope for the failing