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American Immigration

Native Americans are indigenous to America, and African Americans were enslaved and forcefully taken to America. Americans first came to America through immigration.

America initially had an open-door immigration policy. This meant that immigration was positively encouraged as it enabled the nation to develop and prosper.

Between 1836 and 1914, around 30 million Europeans migrated to the United States. The idea of the American dream filled many immigrants with hope that they could enjoy a better life. There were several other pull factors that attracted immigrants to America:

• there were lots of job opportunities in America’s growing industries
• land was cheap to buy and very fertile
• people could practise any religion freely

The immigrant experience

Most of the immigrants had travelled to America by sea, and most arrived on Ellis Island near New York. In 1914, around 878,000 immigrants were processed there. Immigrants underwent a series of medical tests. Anyone suffering from a disease was kept on Ellis Island, for a period of quarantine, or had to return home. Immigrants were also questioned about their work and financial situation to make sure they would be able to support themselves in society.

For many who passed these inspections, America was a land of opportunity, and they became successful. For example:

• Many people thrived in business and American politics. Scottish-born Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest American industrialist for a number of years. By the time of his death in 1919, he had given away a vast amount of his wealth to charities and other good causes.
• Large ethnic communities developed in big cities. For example, many Italians lived together and formed the area of Little Italy in New York.

However, life was also difficult for many new immigrants:

• Living conditions were difficult, with many immigrant communities developing into slums. This was because they were discriminated when seeking housing or simply couldn’t afford decent housing.
• Many immigrant groups found themselves living in ghettoes. This isolation led to further ignorance of their cultures and traditions among other Americans. This then led, in part, to the continuation of prejudiced and racist views in society.
• Many had little option other than to work in low-status and low-skilled jobs for low wages. Some businesses took advantage of their need and recruited immigrants into positions involving both long hours and low pay.

Backlash against immigration

In the early 20th century, the mood turned against certain groups of immigrants.

World War One

During and after World War One (1914-1918), some extreme forms of nationalism gave rise to anti-German feeling. The study of the German language was removed from some school curriculums and immigrants of German origin were viewed as potential traitors.

Racial prejudice

Increasingly there was a distinction being made between old immigrants, who tended to be WASPs, and new immigrants. This new wave of immigration developed from the mid-19th century into the 1920s. The immigrants included Catholics, from Ireland and Southern Europe (eg Italy), as well as migrants from Eastern Europe and China. They were portrayed by some as a threat to American society and its values.

Economic rivalry

A recession from 1920 to 1921 created a shortage of jobs. Immigrants were often blamed by trade unions and workers for ‘stealing’ jobs from Americans.

Laws restricting immigration

In response to the backlash, Congress passed new laws designed to impose limits on the number of ‘undesirable’ immigrants coming to America. The following laws illustrate how it could be concluded that America was becoming a less tolerant and more xenophobic society:

• In 1917 the Immigration Act used literacy tests to exclude immigrants with low reading ability. It also banned immigration from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
• In 1921 the Emergency Quota Act set a limit of 357,000 immigrants per year.
• In 1924 the National Origins Act further reduced immigration, to only 150,000 people per year. It also set a quota based on birthplace. Only 2 per cent of the total population of any overseas group already in the USA in 1890 could come into the country.