The Role Of Immigrants In The Late 19th And 20th Century

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States had massive amounts of immigrants coming in from a wide range of places like Europe, Germany, Italy, and Ireland. All were making their way into America. Unfortunately, lots of immigrants were driven out of their homes for several reasons, including economic failures, political or religious differences, and an overall instability to simply live. For example, the Irish immigrants had no choice but to leave their homes in Ireland because of famine and economic troubles. We had a similar event happen to us. Many Irish immigrants arrived at Ellis Island in New York Harbor as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Others also entered through different ports, including Boston, Philadelphia, and
I think the immigrants went through one of the toughest times in history. Their living conditions were just one of many problems. Regrettably, immigrants are extremely overcrowded in their homes. Some immigrants lived so packed together that 10–12 people lived in one home. Because of this, living conditions were very unsanitary, particularly in the urban tenements. Food was also an issue among them. Access to nutritious food was often scarce, and many struggled to secure even the basics. Immigrants also had to battle with a lack of refrigeration. Many immigrants didn't have access to modern refrigerators like we do today; they were harder to get their hands on and usually way out of the immigrants’ budget. Due to not having refrigeration, it was difficult to store food safely. It also significantly increases the risk of bacteria in the food, illnesses, or spoilage. Lots of minority citizens back in the day didn’t have the kind of money to go out and buy a refrigerator. With how the economy is right now, some modern people live the exact same way the immigrants did, in unclean and unsanitary living conditions, not able to get their hands on nutritious foods or even food at
In today’s world, sadly, some immigrants’ lives have not changed much. Yes, laws and regulations have changed, but low incomes and unfit working conditions still play a role in society. Thankfully, not every immigrant experience in the 20th century was bad; things began to change in some parts of the nation; some immigrants started their own businesses, contributed to the economy, and gained experience as members instead of outcasts. 20th-century migrants also contributed greatly to industries such as agriculture (crops and animals) and manufacturing industries (car manufacturers, tractor mechanics, etc.). In today’s world, some immigrants have been quite successful; they contribute to a wide variety of aspects and to the growth of America and the economy. The United States and humanity in general have learned a lot from the immigrant experience. We learned the importance of diversity, cultural exchange, and the importance of immigrant economic contributions. I think in today’s diverse society, we are lucky to have every religion, every culture, and every