United States because of promises of economic opportunity, religious freedom, and political and social equality. In the new immigrants faced resistance from native-born Americans for a variety of reasons. Anti-Catholic prejudice was widespread among American Protestants who believed that since Catholics followed the authority of the Pope in religious matters, they would not be good American citizens. Americans also feared that city political bosses were manipulating the votes of their immigrant constituents and promoting corruption in city government. Americans were prejudiced ‘Native-born’ against the new immigrants because Americans believed that they were morally corrupt and associated them with drinking and radical labor politics. The anti-drinking temperance movement was largely directed against immigrants. Opposition to labor unions was, in part, the result of fear of foreign radicals. Native-born workers feared that new immigrants would take their jobs or drive down wages. Ideas such as Social Darwinism and Anglo-Saxon superiority also contributed to anti-immigrant prejudices and a movement to restrict immigration. Immigration from China was limited in the 1880s because native-born Americans did not want to compete with the Chinese for jobs. When the public schools in San Francisco set up a segregated school system for Japanese immigrant children, the resulting diplomatic confrontation with the Japanese government led to limitations on immigration from Japan imposed by the Japanese government [Gentleman’s Agreement]. Some reformers wanted to place restrictions on immigration by requiring a literacy test, just like Southerners were using to limit the political power of the African Americans. In the 1920s, immigration was restricted through a quota system that discriminated against immigrants who arrived after 1890 the – immigrants. ‘new’ Despite this resistance, immigrants continued to find political, social, and economic opportunities in the United States. Immigrants found jobs in American factories and comfort in the ethnic neighborhoods that developed in the cities. Public schools had been established in the early 1800s as a means of assimilating immigrants into American democratic and social values. These schools provided educational opportunities for those immigrant children who did not have to work to help their families survive. Immigrants had the opportunity to vote and some were elected to political office due to the support of their immigrant communities. Others started their own businesses. In turn, immigrants have made many contributions to the growth and development of the United States. The majority of workers who built the transcontinental railroads were Irish and Chinese immigrants. Some first generation immigrants were entrepreneurs who promoted economic growth such as Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell from Scotland. Immigrants were actively recruited by the United States
United States because of promises of economic opportunity, religious freedom, and political and social equality. In the new immigrants faced resistance from native-born Americans for a variety of reasons. Anti-Catholic prejudice was widespread among American Protestants who believed that since Catholics followed the authority of the Pope in religious matters, they would not be good American citizens. Americans also feared that city political bosses were manipulating the votes of their immigrant constituents and promoting corruption in city government. ‘Native-born’ Americans were prejudiced against the new immigrants because Americans believed that they were morally corrupt and associated them with drinking and radical labor politics. The anti-drinking temperance movement was largely directed against immigrants. Opposition to labor unions was, in part, the result of fear of foreign radicals. Native-born workers feared that new immigrants would take their jobs or drive down wages. Ideas such as Social Darwinism and Anglo-Saxon superiority also contributed to anti-immigrant prejudices and a movement to restrict immigration. Immigration from China was limited in the 1880s because native-born Americans did not want to compete with the Chinese for jobs. When the public schools in San Francisco set up a segregated school system for Japanese immigrant children, the resulting diplomatic confrontation with the Japanese government led to limitations on immigration from Japan imposed by the Japanese government [Gentleman’s Agreement]. Some reformers wanted to place restrictions on immigration by requiring a literacy test, just like Southerners were using to limit the political power of the African Americans. In the 1920s, immigration was restricted through a quota system that discriminated against immigrants who arrived after 1890 – the ‘new’ immigrants. Despite this resistance, immigrants continued to find political, social, and economic opportunities in the United States. Immigrants found jobs in American factories and comfort in the ethnic neighborhoods that developed in the cities. Public schools had been established in the early 1800s as a means of assimilating immigrants into American democratic and social values. These schools provided educational opportunities for those immigrant children who did not have to work to help their families survive. Immigrants had the opportunity to vote and some were elected to political office due to the support of their immigrant communities. Others started their own businesses. In turn, immigrants have made many contributions to the growth and development of the United States. The majority of workers who built the transcontinental railroads were Irish and Chinese immigrants. Some first generation immigrants were entrepreneurs who promoted economic growth such as Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell from Scotland. Immigrants were actively recruited by the United States
ImmigrationIR-5th.docx