IMMIGRATION TENSIONS, 1880–1925
Immigrants were seen as economic threat and job competitors.
Response to new groups with unfamiliar cultures, languages, and religions. Commonly, ethnic characteristics persisted well after arrival with the aid of community groups, organizations, churches, etc.
Resentment over the large numbers of newcomers, despite the high rate of those
returning to homelands (overall one-third, but one-half or more among specific groups)
and the establishment of immigrant/ethnic enclaves in the United States.
Pseudo-sciences exaggerated links between culture, initial levels of intelligence, “races”
(nationalities). Americans’ fears about immigrant loyalties, ties to homelands, seemingly
low rates of citizenship, and perceived failure of Americanization efforts.
There was an association of immigrants with ills of urbanization because most lived and
worked in urban areas during this period. Immigrants were also associated with strikes,
riots, Red Scare, assassinations, alcohol, and crime.
Overseas United States involvement reinforced Americans’ sense of white superiority
and the belief that other, non-WASP groups (new immigrants) were nonwhite an
inferior—and likely to retain such (inherited) characteristics.
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