Immigration In The Late 1800s

Immigration has been a very controversial issue in the United States. For centuries, people have traveled great distances to live in the land that is now known as America. Whether it be by force, to escape persecution, to find work, or for freedom, different races from all over the world have gathered in our nation. The fact is, our country was created by these very immigrants. It started in the early 1500s, when Europeans made their first settlements, and later, a small group of people escaping religious persecution known as the Pilgrims. It was these immigrants that paved the foundation of our country. Newer immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s further transformed America to become what it is today. The amount of new immigrants striving …show more content…
escalated dramatically. At this time, unfortunately, hopeful immigrants searching for a better life faced discrimination and poor work and living conditions. However, many did not give up on their new way of life. They continued to take the undesirable and low-skilled jobs. While this was negative for the immigrants, it was a positive for the country, as there was plenty of labor that needed to be done but none were willing to do. Sadly, many hard workers faced prejudice and received little pay for their efforts. Lee Chew describes his unfair experience in the U.S,“But the trouble is that the Chinese are such excellent and faithful workers that bosses will have no others when they can get them. If you look at men working on the street you will find an overseer for every four or five of them. That watching is not necessary for Chinese. They work as well when left to themselves as they do when some one is looking at them.” Newcomers were originally mistreated, but the increasing supply of people in the workforce overall benefited the country aside from increasing job …show more content…
This includes people such as scientists, engineers, and doctors. If we had not given people of other races and countries the opportunities we did, we may not have the technology and resources we do today. In fact, Albert Einstein, a famous German scientist, was an immigrant. He helped Jewish refugees escape to America after the Nazis rose to power. In “The Promised Land,” Mary Antin describes her experience in America, causing her eventual profession as a writer. “Education was free. That subject my father had written about repeatedly, as comprising his chief hope for us children, the essence of American opportunity, the treasure that no thief could touch, not even misfortune or poverty. It was the one thing that he was able to promise us when he sent for us; surer, safer than bread or shelter.” This opportunity for free education played a big role in our society and helped countless

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