Gilded Age- Immigration

Gilded Age- Immigration During the 1880’s immigration patterns changed significantly, the new immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe. Unlike before when most had come from the British Isles and western Europe. These new immigrants were largely illiterate and impoverished, and came in large amounts. They totaled 19 percent of the imcoming immigrants in the 1880’s. Between 1880-1920, almost 24 million immigrants arrived to the United States. At first being welcomed and promised the American dream to then being restricted and mistreated. Immigrants were inspired to come to America by its reputation as the “Land of Liberty”. Also by the Emma Lazarus “Give me your tired, your poor… I lift my lamp beside the golden door” (Doc A). People really believed America was the solution to their problems and it would help them live a better life. America is where everyone is free to become whatever he can make of himself (Doc B). They were well welcomed at first although they had to try and fit in with everyone else and adopt religion (Doc C). A lot of times tried to force to put religion before the country (Doc I). But government liked the fact that they could help America further industrializing and pay them less. New immigration although was accepted, taking care of them was a big business. The United States did not think about checking immigrants and weed out the criminals and insane. Immigrants were often being discriminated and blamed for crimes and offenses because of there status, although there criminal record compared to that of native born comes out even better (Doc D). A lot of bosses provided jobs and services for votes, doing what ever it took to win. Some good American people even reached out to immigrants like Jane Adams who established Hall House, an American settlement house. The Hall House helped newcomers cope with American big-city life. Soon the United States realized the cities overpopulation issues which could no longer be handled (Doc E). Many cities being faced with problems in sanitation, leading to overflowing sewers, uncontrolled garbage, impure water, etc… This combined with soaring populations and overcrowding, which caused crime rates to rise. Many native-born Americans blamed the New Immigrantion for the unsetting situation in the cities and for taking over “their” nation (Doc J). These among other problems were noticed and government realized something should be done (Doc F). Then in 1882, congress began to pass legislation limiting immigration. The first immigration act levied a fifty-cent tax on each immigrant and prohibited people previously connected of political offences. Immigrants already in the United States before it was put into effect continued about trying to keep up and adapt with Americans (Doc G). Later in 1891, legislation established the Bureau of Immigration within Treasury Department and made polygamists, those afflicted with a “loathsome” or “dangerous” disease, and those convinced of crime involving “moral turpitude” disqualified for immigration. This was then followed by more restriction on immigration to where we are today. So as you can see even though the United States public and government seemed very willing to receive more people into their nation, in the long run they saw them as problem causers. They liked the benefit immigration brought, like cheaper wages and how they could treated as you wish. They disliked them and thought they were stealing the peoples nation which led to immigration restrictions and a lot of discrimination from behalf of the citizens of the United States.