Nativists To Restrict Immigration Essay

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries there was a massive influx of immigrants into America. As the immigrants continued flooding the country, many Americans began to support restricted immigration; they became known as “nativists.” American citizens had always expected new immigrants to assimilate into the country and its culture so the appearance of multi-ethnic neighborhoods and the persistence of old world customs was very unsettling. As a result nativists worked to spread their beliefs and encouraged restricted immigration. American nativist groups opposed free, unrestricted immigration because they were afraid that the stereotypical immigrant they had created would ruin their American ideals.
The stereotype of immigrants as inferior, dangerous, and uncontrollable …show more content…
It was believed that, “The time has certainly come, if not to stop, at least to check, to sift, and to restrict those immigrants.” The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prevented further Chinese immigration into America and prevented any Chinese from becoming American citizens. Anti-Chinese sentiments had been growing in California, especially under the leadership of Denis Kearney, because Chinese immigrants were taking jobs at very low wages and never joined labor unions. Legislative action was proposed to limit immigration to those who were literate and eventually a literacy test was added to the Immigration Act of 1924. Immigrants were encouraged by nativists to become Americanized. One reason for this was, “Everybody who comes to America from the old country ought to learn the American language and become an American citizen. If the people that come to America do not become Americans, this country will soon be like the old country.” Assimilation was promoted like this and through Americanization Schools to eliminate the stereotypical immigrant from American