A history of nativism in America:
A look at anti-immigration arguments and sentiments through primary
source quotes and images
Read the handout, “Nativism”
In your notes, do the following:
1. Define “nativism”
2. Take notes about:
what nativists believed
b) who nativists were against/feared
c) the groups that formed to promote nativism
d) what nativists did to show their anti-immigrant feelings
a)
“Thank God we have in America perhaps the largest
percentage of any country in the world of the pure,
unadulterated Anglo-Saxon stock; certainly the greatest
of any nation in the Nordic breed. It is for the
preservation of that splendid stock that has characterized
us that I would make this not an asylum for the
oppressed of all countries, but a country to assimilate
and perfect that splendid type of manhood that has
made America the foremost Nation in her progress and in
her power...”
Ellison DuRant Smith, April 9, 1924,
Congressional Record, 68th Congress, 1st
Session (Washington DC: Government Printing
Office, 1924), vol. 65, 5961–5962.
“If you do not like this country, leave it and go back to that
from whence you came. If you do not do that, you may be
sent back.”
Klansman Rice Means, US Senator for Colorado in 1925
“I will work with the Klan and for the Klan in
the coming election, heart and soul.”
1925 Klansman Mayor Benjamin Stapleton
What did people fear about immigration?
Catholicism
USA mostly Protestant—fear influence of Pope (Europe had feuded,
fought many wars, persecuted, tortured, killed millions over Catholic
vs. Protestant ideology throughout 1500s and 1600s)
They won’t “assimilate” (learn English, learn customs of majority)
They’ll dirty the gene pool, dumb down America
Majority of immigrants low skilled, uneducated, criminals
Immigrants will take the jobs
Colorado Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1890 report Chinese displacing
1,200 white laborers from laundry jobs
“...one Chinaman does as much work as any two men or women because he will work
day and night and also Sunday...”
America: The most
“race” conscious
country ever?
Video clip: Who’s white?
Establishing classifications by race...
The dehumanization of the Irish immigrant...
Equating the Irishman with the African
What do these people fear?
How is it similar to earlier fears of immigration?
Different?
What is the paradox of today’s illegal immigration debate being
shown in this cartoon?
How is it similar to the plight of earlier immigrants?
What is the artist’s perspective on the immigration debate?
Did your ancestors
have to fit through
the funnel?
Did the funnel
make our country a
better place?
Cinco de Mayo celebration in USA
Columbus Day Parade--NYC
When is ethnic pride acceptable? When
does it show an unwillingness to
assimilate?
Chinese New Year parade—San Fran
St. Patrick’s Day celebration--Boston
What were the effects of anti-immigration feelings?
1924 Johnson-Reed Immigration Act severely limits
immigration based on “race”
No Asians allowed to immigrate to America
Imposes strict limits on Southeast and Eastern European
immigration
Asians not allowed to become citizens, own or lease land
Case study: The Johnson Reed Act (AKA immigration Act of 1924)
1. Read “Dear Mexican” question and answer.
a) In your notes, write what you think about the question and
response. Complete sentences and restate the topic!
2. Read the Immigration Act of 1924 history and facts
a) Label your notes “Immigration Act of 1924”
b) Write a bulleted list of the provisions of the Act and summary
of its effects
c) When did Act end?
d) PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THE READING UNLESS
YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST!
Key provisions: Quotas
From 1924-1927 2% law
If there were 100 Italians in America according to the 1890 census,
only 2/year could come in from Italy.
No Asians allowed AT ALL
From 1927-1952, quota would be based on ratio related to 1920
numbers for that ethnic group
No person that is ineligible to be a US citizen can emigrate to US
(e.g. Japanese, China, Philippines, Laos, Korean, Vietnam)
Gave exceptions for wives and children of people already citizens
before passage of act
No limits on immigration from Latin America
Act ended in 1965