Immigration: Shaping America's History and Divisive Politics - Essay Sample

Introduction

The debate on undocumented immigration as well as the immigration policies advanced by the current administration have been major topics of discussion in the recent past and has greatly divided the country especially along political lines. Interestingly, this is not the first time that the country is dealing with issues of immigration. Immigration, both internal and external, has shaped the country in different ways throughout history. Moreover, though most immigrants today identify as hyphenated Americans and are proud of their ethnicity, the pursuit of Americanization was a major issue in the past. This paper seeks to look at some of the major migrations in the history of our country, explore their impacts, as well as the issue of Americanization of the immigrants.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The Black Flight

Following decades of residential stability in the South, the southern blacks embarked on a massive migration at the turn of the 20th century. The migration was mostly fueled by the need for better financial arrangements. As a result of reconstruction and redemption, short-distance was common as the black tenant farmers moved from one landlord to another. However, some blacks crossed borders especially towards the Southwest where King Cotton held the promise of a better livelihood. Though the migration was not as massive as other migrations seen in history, it had far-reaching consequences. The Atlanta Race Riot of 1906 is one of the major consequences of the migration. The riot took place between the 22nd and 24th of September, 1906. Dozens of blacks were killed and scores of others wounded by white mobs. Considerable damage to property also occurred. According to local dailies, an alleged assault on white females by black males catalyzed the riot. However, various underlying factors have been cited as the causes of the riot. The growing population and the subsequent pressure on the existing resources have been pointed out as the major cause of the riot. Between 1880 and 1900, the black population in the hub had grown from 9,000 to 35,000. Racial tensions also grew with the expansion of the Jim Crow segregation. To save the image of Atlanta nationally and internationally, a racial reconciliation was sought.

The Irish Immigration and Americanization

It is estimated that over three million Irish immigrants got into the US between 1840 and 1890. By the turn of the century, an estimated five million Irish, both first and second generation, had settled in the US. The Irish immigrants were the most Americanized of all the immigrants. Other immigrants and Italians admired the Irish not only because they spoke English but also because they portrayed the American image. They held jobs such as firemen, police, and ball players. However, later generations of immigrants were not influenced by the Irish. Rather, the influences of their communities in society accultured them. However, they had to deal with the entrenchment of the Irish in society. As mentioned earlier, the Americanization movement has greatly changed over the years. While the early years of the 20th century held no room for hyphenated Americans, millions of immigrants identify as hyphenated Americans today. However, despite the changes, Americanization remains a potent social ideological that has led to the creation of a national identity.

Conclusion

This discussion has shown that immigration has been a major issue throughout the history of the country. Immigration, both domestic and international, has had various social implications. For instance, the migration of blacks from the south led to the Atlanta Riot of 1906 which claimed several lives and damaged property. Though the early immigrants pursued Americanization with little focus on their ethnic identity, millions of immigrants identify as hyphenated Americans today. This notwithstanding, Americanization plays a critical role in the creation of national identity.

Bibliography

Barrett, James R., and David R. Roediger. 2005. "The Irish and the "Americanization" of the "New Immigrants" in the Streets and in the Churches of the Urban United States, 1900-1930." Journal of American Ethnic History 24 (4): 3-33. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27501633.

Crowe, Charles. 1968. "Racial Violence and Social Reform-Origins of the Atlanta Riot of 1906." The Journal of Negroe History 53 (3): 234-256. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.2307/2716218.

Graham, Otis L., and Elizabeth Koed. 1993. "Americanizing the Immigrant, Past, and Future: History and Implications of a Social Movement." The Public Historian 15 (4): 22-49. doi: 10.2307/3378635.

Tolnay, Stewart E., and Elwood M. Beck. 1990. "Black Flight: Lethal Violence and the Great Migration, 1900-1930." Social Science History 14 (3): 347-370. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-science-history/article/black-flight-lethal-violence-and-the-great-migration-19001930/51DB930F0596F22DB69F16AB23AE989F.