The Biggest Hypocrite; America
Americas foundation is laid upon migrants and foreigners coming from different countries or some far off land; the definition of Immigration. Every single American (except Native Americans) can trace their ancestry back to another corner of the world, such as China, the United Kingdom, South America, and most commonly, Europe. However, even though immigration brought in more culture and diversity, the seeds of Nativism and Xenophobia were spread. America has claimed since its birth that it has had "open arms" to foreigners; however, during the 1920 's, those seeds sprouted and America grew cold shoulders towards immigrants (Anbinder 774).
Most Americans come from a Catholic or Protestant faith and aren 't very …show more content…
America grew more and more uncomfortable as they bumped shoulders with foreigners (Getz 1). They saw immigrants as stupid, weird, and curious individuals (McCune 25). They tested them with mentality tests, and used them as Guinea pigs to try and prove and satisfy their assumptions that they were unintelligent and didn’t feel emotions the same was as we did (McCune 25). Psychologists used biological theories to back their suspicions and fears that America wouldn 't be the same if too many of these foreigners came (Getz 1). One particular person who believed these theories to be true would be Madison Grant. Grant wrote “The Passing of the Great Race” and predicted the downfall of the American Society due to the growing number of immigrants (Getz 2). Grant stated that America would be committing “race suicide” by allowing more and more immigrants into America (Getz 2). Many others started noticing that immigrants would still follow the laws that were legal in their home country, not America. Grant supported this by insisting that the “darker” the race, the higher crime rates would be (Getz 2). Someone who influenced these beliefs, other than Grant, was a man named G. Stanley Hall. Hall was one of those psychologists that believed biology “shaped the course of human interaction and beliefs ” and also stating that immigrants had no real value until they earned the title of “American” (Getz …show more content…
The population of America in the early 1900’s was about seventy-six million people; between 1904 through the end of the 1920’s six million immigrants poured through the gates of Ellis Island, and because of that forty million people who live in the United States today, can trace their ancestry back to that island (Hernandez 19). This small island was like a glimpse of Heaven to these immigrants; this is the place where they were told their dreams would become reality (Hernandez 19). On the other hand, they didn 't know what was waiting for them inside that small island. Ellis island tested immigrants for everything from diseases to mental disorders (Bochman 19). Many immigrants were separated from their families because some were allowed in, while others weren 't. Chinese immigrants, for example, were stopped almost completely from coming because of their already huge population on the west coast (Bochman 47). These tests and trials broke up many families and broke many hearts as they were forced back to their home countries, right where they started (Hernandez 49). The ones who made it in mostly lived in New York City 's 5 Points district (Hernandez 10). This small area was full of small apartments where they were crammed full with way too many people, because they were cheap and that 's what they could
Americas foundation is laid upon migrants and foreigners coming from different countries or some far off land; the definition of Immigration. Every single American (except Native Americans) can trace their ancestry back to another corner of the world, such as China, the United Kingdom, South America, and most commonly, Europe. However, even though immigration brought in more culture and diversity, the seeds of Nativism and Xenophobia were spread. America has claimed since its birth that it has had "open arms" to foreigners; however, during the 1920 's, those seeds sprouted and America grew cold shoulders towards immigrants (Anbinder 774).
Most Americans come from a Catholic or Protestant faith and aren 't very …show more content…
America grew more and more uncomfortable as they bumped shoulders with foreigners (Getz 1). They saw immigrants as stupid, weird, and curious individuals (McCune 25). They tested them with mentality tests, and used them as Guinea pigs to try and prove and satisfy their assumptions that they were unintelligent and didn’t feel emotions the same was as we did (McCune 25). Psychologists used biological theories to back their suspicions and fears that America wouldn 't be the same if too many of these foreigners came (Getz 1). One particular person who believed these theories to be true would be Madison Grant. Grant wrote “The Passing of the Great Race” and predicted the downfall of the American Society due to the growing number of immigrants (Getz 2). Grant stated that America would be committing “race suicide” by allowing more and more immigrants into America (Getz 2). Many others started noticing that immigrants would still follow the laws that were legal in their home country, not America. Grant supported this by insisting that the “darker” the race, the higher crime rates would be (Getz 2). Someone who influenced these beliefs, other than Grant, was a man named G. Stanley Hall. Hall was one of those psychologists that believed biology “shaped the course of human interaction and beliefs ” and also stating that immigrants had no real value until they earned the title of “American” (Getz …show more content…
The population of America in the early 1900’s was about seventy-six million people; between 1904 through the end of the 1920’s six million immigrants poured through the gates of Ellis Island, and because of that forty million people who live in the United States today, can trace their ancestry back to that island (Hernandez 19). This small island was like a glimpse of Heaven to these immigrants; this is the place where they were told their dreams would become reality (Hernandez 19). On the other hand, they didn 't know what was waiting for them inside that small island. Ellis island tested immigrants for everything from diseases to mental disorders (Bochman 19). Many immigrants were separated from their families because some were allowed in, while others weren 't. Chinese immigrants, for example, were stopped almost completely from coming because of their already huge population on the west coast (Bochman 47). These tests and trials broke up many families and broke many hearts as they were forced back to their home countries, right where they started (Hernandez 49). The ones who made it in mostly lived in New York City 's 5 Points district (Hernandez 10). This small area was full of small apartments where they were crammed full with way too many people, because they were cheap and that 's what they could